Malik Beasley and former NBA veteran Ed Davis have been indicted in a federal sports gambling case, with prosecutors alleging the two men helped manipulate Beasley’s on-court performance during multiple Milwaukee Bucks games.
Beasley, a nine-year NBA veteran, and Davis, a 12-year NBA veteran, were charged by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York. Prosecutors allege the men became close as Minnesota Timberwolves teammates during the 2020-21 season and later worked together on a betting scheme during Beasley’s 2023-24 season with Milwaukee.
According to the indictment, Davis texted Beasley about a month before a January 26, 2024, Bucks-Cavaliers game, “Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting. Everything else they got the edge.”
Prosecutors allege Beasley had millions in gambling debt and that Davis loaned him money. They claim Beasley worked off the debt through the scheme, which also allegedly involved Davis’ former NBA agent Paolo Zamorano and three other defendants.
Investigators say bets were placed around Beasley’s stats in games against Cleveland, Charlotte, the LA Clippers and Brooklyn. Beasley averaged 11.3 points that season but scored three against Cleveland, a line investigators cited in court papers filed in New York.
“We’ll review the indictment and vigorously defend the charges and maintain Malik’s innocence,” Beasley’s lawyer Steve Haney told The Athletic.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the league is reviewing the indictment and “will continue to investigate this matter and cooperate with the relevant authorities” going forward.