Fans celebrate after Detroit guard Malik Beasley scored a 3-pointer in the second quarter of a game between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks in Detroit, May 1.
DAVID GURALNICK/DETROIT NEWS/TNS
DETROIT — NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office regarding gambling allegations tied to league games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the matter.
“We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement released to the AP and other outlets on Sunday.
ESPN was the first to report on the investigation.
“There have been no charges against Malik,” Steve Haney, Beasley’s attorney, told the AP. “It’s just an investigation at this point. We hope people reserve judgement until he’s charged — or if he’s charged. It’s not uncommon for there to be a federal investigation.”
The probe into Beasley comes 14 months after the NBA banned Toronto’s Jontay Porter, who was linked to a prop bet investigation and eventually pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud.
Beasley signed last year with the Pistons, taking a one-year contract for $6 million in hopes of cashing in this summer as a free agent. A second person, speaking to AP on condition of anonymity because no deal was announced, said Detroit was “very interested” in resigning Beasley to a multi-year contract this summer. Those talks might be in jeopardy, given the uncertainty regarding the federal probe.
Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.