Malik Beasley Reaches Plea Deal in Sports Gambling Case
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Former NBA player faces charges for allegedly manipulating his own statistics to satisfy prop bets.
Malik Beasley has agreed to a plea deal with Department of Justice lawyers regarding his involvement in an illegal sports gambling ring, as CBS Sports first reported. Beasley's attorney confirmed the deal on Tuesday, and the former player is set to appear in New York on Dec. 9 to enter a guilty plea, though the specific charges involved in the agreement remain undisclosed.
Beasley was indicted on June 29 under allegations that he manipulated his own performance statistics during several games in the 2023-24 season. The goal of the manipulation was to ensure bettors won on specific prop bets, CBS Sports reports. The indictment claims that Beasley worked with former NBA player Ed Davis and four other named co-conspirators in an effort to settle millions of dollars in gambling debts.
Prosecutors cited text messages from co-defendants celebrating a March 10 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, during which Beasley allegedly shoved a teammate to exceed his rebounding prop with 1.1 seconds remaining. CBS Sports reports the scheme collapsed following a March 21 game against the Brooklyn Nets, where Beasley exceeded his rebounding prop, leading co-defendants to demand that Davis refund their money.
Beasley's lawyer, Steve Haney, previously stated to CBS Sports that the indictment was a "one-sided charging document" and not evidence. Beasley had initially pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and bribery in sporting contests.
Beasley is the second NBA player to reach a plea deal in a gambling ring case, following Jontay Porter, who pleaded guilty in 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Other league figures facing legal issues include Terry Rozier, who pleaded not guilty to charges in an unrelated ring, and Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones, who were arrested in connection to an illegal poker ring, with Jones also facing illegal sports betting charges, CBS Sports reports.