On Monday, Malik Beasley and Ed Davis were both indicted on sports gambling charges by federal prosecutors. According to prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Beasley manipulated his stats four times during the 2023-24 NBA season while with the Milwaukee Bucks. While little is known about the charges or potential sentence, prosecutors have provided details about the extent of both former players’ crimes.
Malik Beasley, Ed Davis Indicted On Federal Sports Gambling Charges
Prosecutors believe that the pair of players got close during the 2020-21 NBA season while both were playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the gambling scheme didn’t begin until January 26, 2024, when Beasley and the Bucks took on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to the federal indictment, Davis texted Beasley a month before that fateful evening, saying the “only way to beat Vegas is sports betting,” and “everything else they got the edge.” Cleveland was the first of four games that season, with games against the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Brooklyn Nets. Beasley, Davis, and two others will face charges related to sports bribery, conspiracy to commit fraud, honest service fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Money Problems
Beasley has been under investigation for over a year, with debt reportedly becoming a forefront to a potential driving force behind his actions. The 29-year-old has had extreme financial issues despite his success in the NBA with $60 million in career earnings. He’s been sued twice: once by his former agency and another from a loan office. Beasley fell into a significant debt problem from sports gambling, according to prosecutors, which led Davis to loan him money. That eventually caused Beasley to work off that debt as part of the gambling scheme, effectively sealing his fate.
During the Bucks-Cavaliers game, Beasley would have over five figures bet on him and would score just three points. While it’s not described what was bet on during the Hornets game, Beasley would collect four rebounds against the Clippers, with the last one coming in the closing seconds of the game. However, according to prosecutors, the scheme fell apart after Beasley failed to secure the under on his rebounding total during the game against the Nets.
After losing out on a substantial, three-year deal worth $42 million with the Detroit Pistons and being under investigation for over a full year, Beasley will officially go on trial for his several charges, with possible jail time and fines in his future. Just two seasons ago, Beasley was one of the best bench assets around the league. Now, he almost certainly will never get another opportunity to play on an NBA hardwood ever again. Both players join a climbing list of names for taking part in illegal operations relating to on-court performances.
Growing Reality
Davis and Beasley are just two more names to add to the growing list of players who have been charged or arrested for crimes related to sports gambling. Jontay Porter is banned from the NBA and is currently on bail while awaiting his sentencing after pleading guilty to committing wire fraud last July, a scheme that also involved former veteran guard Damon Jones. Terry Rozier is awaiting his trial, slated for next year, after taking a six-figure bribe to leave a game early.
Sports gambling continues to have an extreme grasp around the world, and money talks. Even with the success that NBA players have, they find themselves getting into situations with extreme consequences. In turn, they effectively ruin their reputation, career, and possibly, the rest of their lives. These verdicts may effectively end the sports gambling saga that has consumed NBA players for the last few seasons, allowing the league to move forward.
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