Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges connected to an alleged sports betting scheme, his attorney Steve Haney told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday. The charges reportedly involve gambling-related activity including point shaving and prop bets, with the government coordinating Beasley’s voluntary surrender this week.
The indictment creates further uncertainty around Beasley’s NBA future after the veteran guard missed the 2025-26 season while an investigation into gambling allegations remained unresolved. Before the latest development, Beasley had been drawing interest from the Detroit Pistons, with NBA insider Evan Sidery reporting that the two sides had discussed a potential one-year return.
Detroit’s interest came after Beasley played a major role in the franchise’s turnaround during the 2024-25 season. In 82 games, Beasley averaged 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27.8 minutes per game while shooting 41.6% from three-point range on 9.3 attempts per night.
His perimeter shooting helped him set a Pistons franchise record with 319 made three-pointers and finish second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Beasley’s shooting ability has been his defining NBA skill throughout his career. Across 578 games, he has averaged 11.7 points while connecting on 39.1% of his three-point attempts. He has recorded three seasons above 40% from deep, including a 41.3% mark with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24.
During his NBA absence, Beasley remained active professionally. He joined the Santurce Crabbers in Puerto Rico’s BSN league in February, allowing him to continue competing while awaiting clarity on his status.
At 29 years old, Beasley entered the offseason as a player expected to have a market because of his shooting profile and veteran experience. The federal indictment, however, changes the timeline and puts his availability for a potential NBA return in question as teams evaluate the situation.
