Former players Malik Beasley, Ed Davis charged in NBA gambling scandal

By — Ed White, Associated Press Ed White, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/former-players-malik-beasley-ed-davis-charged-in-nba-gambling-scandal Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Former players Malik Beasley, Ed Davis charged in NBA gambling scandal Nation Jun 29, 2026 2:09 PM EDT Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted in the latest round of charges in the government's sprawling gambling investigation, authorities said Monday. When he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024, Beasley agreed to tailor his performance based on prop bets in certain games, according to an indictment unsealed in Brooklyn. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said Beasley and others "turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation." The schemes, he added, "erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public." Attorneys for Beasley and Davis did not immediately return messages seeking comment on charges of conspiracy and bribery. Nocella said the scheme involved hundreds of thousands of dollars. The indictment, which names six people, says Beasley had financial woes, including millions of dollars in gambling losses, and had relied on Davis, a former teammate, for financial help. In return for fixing his performance, Beasley got paid by his money-winning co-conspirators and his debts to Davis were reduced or eliminated, the indictment alleges. In one example, Beasley dashed past four players to grab a rebound at the last second in a Milwaukee victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, 2024. With the Bucks ahead by seven points, the shot and any rebound would not have affected the outcome. But by hustling to grab the missed shot, Beasley finished with four rebounds that night, which was a winning prop bet, the indictment states. "What's funny is after he got it he had a big sigh of relief," a co-conspirator said in a text message, according to the indictment. Beasley last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2024-25, averaging 16 points. He is one of five players in NBA history with more than 300 3-pointers in a season, but has not played in the NBA since because of the investigation. He played briefly for a team in Puerto Rico earlier this year. Nov 5, 2021; Cleveland Cavaliers center Ed Davis (21) sits during the pre game warmup against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Photo by Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports READ MORE: Arrests of current and former stars raise troubling gambling questions for NBA Beasley's financial woes have been widely reported by the news media, including lawsuits by his Detroit landlord and payment disputes with a Milwaukee barber and Minnesota dentist. Davis was a journeyman who was primarily a backup in a 12-year career that got him roughly $48 million in gross salary. He and Beasley briefly were teammates in Minnesota in the 2020-21 season. In April, former NBA