Topline: Federal prosecutors say former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis were charged in a basketball gambling case that accused Beasley of manipulating prop-bet outcomes while buried in debt.
Published: June 30, 2026 4:00 pm ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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Ed Davis, left, and Malik Beasley (via Facebook / Instagram)
NEW YORK, NY — Former NBA player Malik Beasley has been indicted in Brooklyn federal court as part of what prosecutors described as a broad illegal gambling investigation tied to professional basketball, and former NBA player Ed Davis was also charged in the same six-defendant indictment unsealed Monday.
According to News4JAX, prosecutors allege Beasley tailored parts of his 2024 performance with the Milwaukee Bucks to reward bettors while trying to dig out of serious financial trouble. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the defendants “turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation,” and said the scheme undermined the integrity of the sport and the sports-watching public.
Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars were wagered through popular gambling sites. The indictment alleges Beasley had millions of dollars in gambling losses and other financial problems, and that he had relied on Davis, a former teammate, for financial help.
Prosecutors said that in exchange for fixing aspects of his performance, Beasley was paid by co-conspirators who won money on the bets, and that debts he owed Davis were reduced or wiped out. In one example laid out in the indictment, prosecutors said Beasley told Davis he would try to beat the 3.5 prop line for rebounds in Milwaukee’s March 10, 2024 game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Authorities said Beasley challenged a shot with one second left in a game the Bucks were already leading, then ran past four players to secure the rebound at the buzzer and finish with four rebounds, enough to cash the over. The indictment says a co-conspirator later remarked in a text message that Beasley appeared relieved after getting the board.
In other games, prosecutors said, Beasley told Davis he planned to underperform certain statistics. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, said his client maintains his presumption of innocence during what he described as a two-year investigation and asked the public to reserve judgment until all the facts are known.
The NBA said it would continue cooperating with investigators and that the integrity of the game remains its top priority.
Beasley has been out of the NBA since the 2024-25 season and last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2025, when he averaged 16 points per game. The report said he is one of only five players in league history with more than 300 three-pointers in a season, but he did not play last season because of the investigation. His financial problems have also been publicly reported, including lawsuits by a Detroit landlord and payment disputes involving a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist.
Davis’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The former center was described as an NBA journeyman who earned roughly $48 million in gross salary over a 12-year career, and he and Beasley were teammates in Minnesota during the 2020-21 season.
Prosecutors also charged Paolo Zamorano, a sports agent who formerly represented Davis, accusing him of placing bets based on Beasley’s information. Zamorano’s attorney said he denies wrongdoing and looks forward to court.
The latest charges stem from a wider gambling crackdown. Authorities said more than 30 people were arrested in a sweep announced last fall, including reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures. The report said former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty in April after being accused of defrauding sportsbooks and poker players, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was charged in 2025 in a case tied to a 2023 game, and former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 in a separate gambling case after admitting he took himself out of games early so others could win bets on his performance.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Former NBA Players Malik Beasley, Ed Davis Charged in Federal Gambling Case
Federal prosecutors say former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis were charged in a basketball gambling case that accused Beasley of manipulating prop-bet outcomes while buried in debt.
By Randy Shaw
Published: June 30, 2026 4:00 pm ET
Ed Davis, left, and Malik Beasley (via Facebook / Instagram)
NEW YORK, NY — Former NBA player Malik Beasley has been indicted in Brooklyn federal court as part of what prosecutors described as a broad illegal gambling investigation tied to professional basketball, and former NBA player Ed Davis was also charged in the same six-defendant indictment unsealed Monday.
According to News4JAX, prosecutors allege Beasley tailored parts of his 2024 performance with the Milwaukee Bucks to reward bettors while trying to dig out of serious financial trouble. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the defendants “turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation,” and said the scheme undermined the integrity of the sport and the sports-watching public.
Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars were wagered through popular gambling sites. The indictment alleges Beasley had millions of dollars in gambling losses and other financial problems, and that he had relied on Davis, a former teammate, for financial help.
Prosecutors said that in exchange for fixing aspects of his performance, Beasley was paid by co-conspirators who won money on the bets, and that debts he owed Davis were reduced or wiped out. In one example laid out in the indictment, prosecutors said Beasley told Davis he would try to beat the 3.5 prop line for rebounds in Milwaukee’s March 10, 2024 game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Authorities said Beasley challenged a shot with one second left in a game the Bucks were already leading, then ran past four players to secure the rebound at the buzzer and finish with four rebounds, enough to cash the over. The indictment says a co-conspirator later remarked in a text message that Beasley appeared relieved after getting the board.
In other games, prosecutors said, Beasley told Davis he planned to underperform certain statistics. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, said his client maintains his presumption of innocence during what he described as a two-year investigation and asked the public to reserve judgment until all the facts are known.
The NBA said it would continue cooperating with investigators and that the integrity of the game remains its top priority.
Beasley has been out of the NBA since the 2024-25 season and last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2025, when he averaged 16 points per game. The report said he is one of only five players in league history with more than 300 three-pointers in a season, but he did not play last season because of the investigation. His financial problems have also been publicly reported, including lawsuits by a Detroit landlord and payment disputes involving a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist.
Davis’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The former center was described as an NBA journeyman who earned roughly $48 million in gross salary over a 12-year career, and he and Beasley were teammates in Minnesota during the 2020-21 season.
Prosecutors also charged Paolo Zamorano, a sports agent who formerly represented Davis, accusing him of placing bets based on Beasley’s information. Zamorano’s attorney said he denies wrongdoing and looks forward to court.
The latest charges stem from a wider gambling crackdown. Authorities said more than 30 people were arrested in a sweep announced last fall, including reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures. The report said former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty in April after being accused of defrauding sportsbooks and poker players, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was charged in 2025 in a case tied to a 2023 game, and former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 in a separate gambling case after admitting he took himself out of games early so others could win bets on his performance.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Former NBA Players Malik Beasley, Ed Davis Charged in Federal Gambling Case
Federal prosecutors say former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis were charged in a basketball gambling case that accused Beasley of manipulating prop-bet outcomes while buried in debt.
By Randy Shaw
Published: June 30, 2026 4:00 pm ET
Ed Davis, left, and Malik Beasley (via Facebook / Instagram)
NEW YORK, NY — Former NBA player Malik Beasley has been indicted in Brooklyn federal court as part of what prosecutors described as a broad illegal gambling investigation tied to professional basketball, and former NBA player Ed Davis was also charged in the same six-defendant indictment unsealed Monday.
According to News4JAX, prosecutors allege Beasley tailored parts of his 2024 performance with the Milwaukee Bucks to reward bettors while trying to dig out of serious financial trouble. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the defendants “turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation,” and said the scheme undermined the integrity of the sport and the sports-watching public.
Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars were wagered through popular gambling sites. The indictment alleges Beasley had millions of dollars in gambling losses and other financial problems, and that he had relied on Davis, a former teammate, for financial help.
Prosecutors said that in exchange for fixing aspects of his performance, Beasley was paid by co-conspirators who won money on the bets, and that debts he owed Davis were reduced or wiped out. In one example laid out in the indictment, prosecutors said Beasley told Davis he would try to beat the 3.5 prop line for rebounds in Milwaukee’s March 10, 2024 game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Authorities said Beasley challenged a shot with one second left in a game the Bucks were already leading, then ran past four players to secure the rebound at the buzzer and finish with four rebounds, enough to cash the over. The indictment says a co-conspirator later remarked in a text message that Beasley appeared relieved after getting the board.
In other games, prosecutors said, Beasley told Davis he planned to underperform certain statistics. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, said his client maintains his presumption of innocence during what he described as a two-year investigation and asked the public to reserve judgment until all the facts are known.
The NBA said it would continue cooperating with investigators and that the integrity of the game remains its top priority.
Beasley has been out of the NBA since the 2024-25 season and last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2025, when he averaged 16 points per game. The report said he is one of only five players in league history with more than 300 three-pointers in a season, but he did not play last season because of the investigation. His financial problems have also been publicly reported, including lawsuits by a Detroit landlord and payment disputes involving a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist.
Davis’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The former center was described as an NBA journeyman who earned roughly $48 million in gross salary over a 12-year career, and he and Beasley were teammates in Minnesota during the 2020-21 season.
Prosecutors also charged Paolo Zamorano, a sports agent who formerly represented Davis, accusing him of placing bets based on Beasley’s information. Zamorano’s attorney said he denies wrongdoing and looks forward to court.
The latest charges stem from a wider gambling crackdown. Authorities said more than 30 people were arrested in a sweep announced last fall, including reputed mobsters and prominent basketball figures. The report said former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty in April after being accused of defrauding sportsbooks and poker players, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was charged in 2025 in a case tied to a 2023 game, and former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in 2024 in a separate gambling case after admitting he took himself out of games early so others could win bets on his performance.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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