The feds just dropped a sports gambling indictment that ties together two NBA veterans and a whole lot of shady text messages. Former lottery pick Ed Davis and ex-Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley are among six defendants named in a federal case unsealed Monday in Brooklyn. Prosecutors say they ran a scheme where Beasley deliberately changed his on-court performance to cash in on prop bets during the 2023-24 season.
According to an ESPN report citing the indictment, the alleged plot targeted at least four games when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks. The feds claim Beasley intentionally altered his statistics so co-conspirators could profit off player prop wagers. The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov broke the news Monday morning.
The Alleged Scheme
The indictment paints a pretty specific picture. Prosecutors say Beasley lost millions gambling during his NBA career and agreed to manipulate his stat lines in multiple games while wearing a Bucks uniform. Davis, the son of Virginia Union legend Terry Davis, allegedly acted as Beasley’s gatekeeper and pushed him to participate.
“Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting,” Davis allegedly texted Beasley in December 2023 according to the indictment. “We can make some good money.”
Federal prosecutors say the group placed more than $75,000 in wagers and netted at least $121,000. The indictment also alleges Beasley received bribes that often went toward reducing or paying off debts he owed Davis. That’s the kind of detail that makes this case feel less like a gambling hobby and more like a tight financial loop between two players.
Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney pushed back hard in a statement to ESPN. “An indictment is not proof of guilt or evidence. It is merely a charge of probable cause,” Haney said. “The investigation was a year and a half long and we maintain Malik’s innocence of all charges.”
The NBA acknowledged the charges and said it’s reviewing the indictment while cooperating with authorities. No word yet on potential league discipline, but that’s probably coming down the road.
Who These Guys Are
Davis played 11 NBA seasons after getting drafted 13th overall in 2010. Before that, he was the son of one of the best players in Virginia Union history. Terry Davis dominated for the Panthers from 1985-89, earning CIAA Most Outstanding Player honors in 1989 after averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds for three straight seasons. He led Virginia Union to three NCAA Division II Tournament appearances before a 10-year NBA career with the Heat, Mavericks, Wizards and Nuggets.
This whole situation is a mess for everybody involved. Beasley was actually having a decent season with the Bucks last year. Now he’s facing federal charges instead of playoff minutes. And Davis, who has been out of the league since 2021, is looking at serious legal trouble. One thing is certain: the DOJ isn’t messing around with sports gambling cases these days. The NBA learned that the hard way with Jontay Porter.
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