NBA veteran Malik Beasley shut down speculation linking him to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade during a Twitch stream on Sunday. “I’m not going to Serbia… motherfu–ers know that,” Beasley said, leaving little doubt about his intentions.
Reports from Serbian outlet Novasport had suggested that Partizan was negotiating a deal with Beasley for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The club, currently 16th in the EuroLeague with a 5-9 record, had sought to add the guard to improve scoring and playmaking, particularly alongside Carlik Jones and Tyrique Jones.
Beasley, who averaged 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists last season with Detroit, has been sidelined from NBA opportunities due to an ongoing investigation into alleged gambling activities. His availability had made a mid-season move to Europe a possibility.
Partizan’s president, Ostoja Mijailovic, reportedly led the negotiations, with his son Jovan assisting, aiming to secure Beasley for a $2 million contract through the end of the season. The agreement would have barred Beasley from returning to the NBA until after the summer.
The club has struggled this season, scoring 82.4 points per game while allowing 87, reflecting a -4.6 point differential. Management hoped adding a proven scorer like Beasley, who averages 11.7 points per game in 578 NBA regular-season games and 39.1% from three-point range, could stabilize the team and energize fans.
Beasley’s emphatic rejection puts an end to immediate transfer speculation, signaling that the guard will not join Europe’s top-tier competition in mid-season. Partizan now faces continued pressure to address its scoring and performance gaps without the veteran addition.
The EuroLeague club’s organizational challenges persist following the sudden departure of legendary coach Zeljko Obradovic, leaving the front office to find solutions with existing players. Beasley’s decision keeps the focus on internal development and current roster strategy.
