**Ex-NBA Players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis Indicted in Federal Gambling Case**
Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis were indicted on Monday on federal charges related to an alleged sports betting operation. The indictment, released by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, names a total of six defendants involved in the case.
Beasley, who played his last NBA game on April 29, 2025, for the Detroit Pistons, and Davis, who had a 12-season career with eight teams, are accused of participating in a scheme that involved manipulating game performances for the benefit of illegal betting activities. Both players were prominent figures in the league, with Beasley being a first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, and Davis being selected in 2010 by the Toronto Raptors.
The indictment alleges that Beasley, during his nine-year NBA career, lost millions of dollars due to gambling. It is claimed that he agreed to adjust his performance in at least three games during the 2023-24 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. This adjustment was purportedly made to facilitate wagers placed by his alleged co-conspirators on his game statistics.
Prosecutors allege that Beasley accepted bribes to manage or pay off debts owed to Davis, who was his teammate with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-21 season. Text messages presented in the indictment reveal a conversation between the two players in December 2023, where Davis suggested that sports betting was a way to profit, stating, “Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting.”
In a subsequent communication, Beasley indicated his intention to underperform in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 26, 2024. He finished that game with three rebounds, which was below the betting line of 3.5 rebounds set by various sportsbooks. The indictment details that the defendants and their co-conspirators placed numerous fraudulent wagers amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, specifically targeting Beasley’s "under rebounds" prop bets.
As of midday Monday, Beasley and Paolo Zamorano, an NBA player agent also named in the indictment, had not yet been taken into custody. Meanwhile, Davis, along with William Brown, Rob Gorodetsky, and Ernesto Plascencia, were arrested in connection with the case.
The NBA has not released any public statement regarding the indictments as of the latest updates.
The implications of this case extend beyond the individuals involved, as it raises significant concerns about the integrity of professional sports and the potential for gambling-related corruption. As the investigation unfolds, it will likely attract further scrutiny from both the league and law enforcement authorities.
Beasley, who has earned nearly $60 million throughout his NBA career, and Davis, who accumulated close to $47 million, now face serious legal challenges that could have lasting impacts on their post-NBA careers and reputations. The case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with gambling, particularly for athletes who may feel pressure to perform or manage financial difficulties.
As the legal proceedings progress, the sports community will be watching closely to see how this situation develops and what it means for the future of gambling in professional sports.