NEW YORK, June 29 - Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn announced indictments on Monday charging former National Basketball Association players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis with crimes connected to gambling activity, authorities said.
According to the indictment, the alleged scheme involved three separate games in 2024. Prosecutors assert that, prior to those contests, Beasley informed Davis he planned to either exceed or fall short of certain statistical benchmarks - such as points scored or rebounds collected - in exchange for the promise of a bribe. The indictment further alleges that Davis then relayed Beasley’s purported plans to several co-conspirators so they could place wagers tied to those statistical outcomes.
Prosecutors said the co-conspirators placed hundreds of thousands of dollars in bets, and that many of those wagers were successful. The co-conspirators themselves have been charged alongside Beasley and Davis, according to the public statements from federal prosecutors.
At the time of the alleged conduct, Beasley was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Prosecutors noted that since entering the NBA in 2016 Beasley had earned tens of millions of dollars, while also incurring multimillion-dollar gambling losses.
Beasley’s attorney, Steven Haney, issued a statement saying, "Malik maintains his presumption of innocence throughout this two-year investigation. We ask that people reserve judgment until all the facts are known." Lawyers for Davis did not immediately respond to requests for comment, prosecutors said. Representatives for the NBA and the Milwaukee Bucks also did not immediately respond to inquiries.
The indictments were characterized by federal prosecutors as part of a broader string of cases that have raised questions about the integrity of sports - a concern that has intensified alongside rapid growth in legalized sports betting across the United States.
Prosecutors noted that Beasley and Davis were teammates with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-2021 season and that they maintained a close relationship. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn, though no arraignment date has been announced.
Context and implications
The allegations, as laid out by prosecutors, center on attempts to manipulate player-level statistical performance for the purpose of influencing betting outcomes. The case adds to a series of legal actions that federal authorities say involve efforts by professional athletes to facilitate wagers by others.
As the legal process advances, the timeline for arraignment and any subsequent hearings remains uncertain. The indictments themselves do not establish guilt; they set in motion federal court proceedings in Brooklyn.