For the first time since a federal investigation surrounding him came to light this past June, free agent NBA guard Malik Beasley has broken his silence on allegations of gambling.
Key Takeaways
- Veteran player under investigation after unusual betting activity on his props during the 2023-24 campaign.
- In conjunction with the probe, Beasley is being sued elsewhere by his former marketing agency after failing to pay back an advance.
- Beasley’s lawyer, Steve Haney, has pushed back against the allegations, noting, “An investigation is not a charge.”
The veteran guard faces allegations of gambling related to prop bets on his statistics.
In a Snapchat story posted late Thursday, Beasley responded to a question on whether or not he felt anybody had turned their back on him during the last few months.
“People were saying some crazy things in the media ... people judging me,” Beasley posted. “I’ll tell you one thing, I have a chip on my shoulder. I’m ready to destroy anybody in front of me. I’m ready to prove again I belong in this league.”
In addition to the U.S. District Attorney's probe, which dates back to January 2024 during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Beasley has also been sued by his farmer marketing agency, according to ESPN, revealing that he was facing millions in lawsuits and debt, including unpaid advances, rent, and loans from multiple creditors.
“An investigation is not a charge,” Beasley’s lawyer Steve Haney said to ESPN in response to the developments last month. “Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything.”
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Cloudy future
The 28-year-old had reportedly been in contract talks and was approaching a three-year, $42 million deal earlier this offseason before news emerged about the allegations. He played for the Detroit Pistons last season on a one-year, $6 million deal.
“Have I made mistakes in my life? Yes,” Beasley also noted in his Snapchat post. “Am I proud of those mistakes? No.”
“I’m human, but I know what I know. Summer continues, and until something else is done, then I’ve got to stay positive,” he added in regards to his ongoing free agency.
Last season, Beasley broke out in a major way with the Pistons, playing in all 82 regular-season games and finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting. The Atlanta, Georgia, native averaged a full-season career-best 16.3 points per game and shot a career-high 41.6% from three-point range.
