Former NBA star Malik Beasley has agreed to plead guilty in a federal sports betting scandal after being accused of manipulating his performances to help gamblers win bets.
The 29-year-old, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, is expected to change his plea at a hearing in Brooklyn, New York, on December 9.
Beasley had previously pleaded not guilty to four federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit money laundering, as reported by What’s The Jam.com.
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The allegations centre on his performances during the 2023-24 NBA season, when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Prosecutors allege Beasley worked with sports bettors to manipulate his statistics in at least four games, allowing them to profit from bets placed on his performance.
The bets involved player prop markets, where gamblers wager on an individual athlete’s statistics, such as points or rebounds.
According to the indictment, Beasley had accumulated millions of dollars in gambling losses and had borrowed money from former NBA teammate Ed Davis.
Prosecutors allege Beasley agreed to manipulate his performances in exchange for financial benefits, including having debts reduced or wiped out.
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The case also involves Davis and four other defendants, who were charged as part of the alleged scheme.
Beasley, who spent nine seasons in the NBA, last played for the Detroit Pistons during the 2024-25 season.
He had been expected to sign a new three-year, $42million (£31.7million) deal with the Pistons, but the offer was withdrawn after the gambling investigation emerged.
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The specific charge Beasley will plead guilty to, and the terms of the agreement, have not yet been publicly confirmed.
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