Malik Beasley intends to change his not-guilty plea in a federal gambling case involving allegations that he manipulated his performance in NBA games to benefit bettors, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. However, Beasley’s lawyer said Friday, October 24, that the former NBA guard has not yet decided whether to plead guilty.
Beasley is negotiating with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, with a final decision expected early next week, Vorkunov reported. Court records filed Friday indicated that Beasley intends to change his plea.
“Steve Haney, a lawyer for Beasley, said Beasley has not yet decided to plead guilty, but is in talks with prosecutors,” Vorkunov wrote.
Beasley was indicted in June alongside former NBA player Ed Davis and four other individuals. Prosecutors allege that Beasley participated in a scheme involving bets on his performance while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 season.
According to the indictment, Beasley had accumulated millions of dollars in gambling debt and borrowed money from Davis, his former teammate with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020-21. The indictment also cites a text message Davis allegedly sent Beasley in December 2023: “Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting. Everything else, they got the edge.”
Prosecutors allege that Beasley manipulated his performance in games against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 26, 2024, the Charlotte Hornets on February 27, the Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, and the Brooklyn Nets on March 21.
Beasley played nine NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Bucks and Detroit Pistons. He started a career-high 77 games for Milwaukee in 2023-24 and earned nearly $60 million in NBA salary. He was set to sign a three-year, $42 million contract with Detroit in 2025, but the team learned he was under federal investigation.
Beasley’s potential plea change comes amid several federal investigations involving alleged gambling schemes connected to professional basketball. Davis and Beasley’s former agent, Paolo Zamorano, have pleaded not guilty, according to Vorkunov.
