Former NBA player Malik Beasley pleads not guilty in sports betting case

John Annese, New York Daily News on Jul 1, 2026

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NEW YORK — Former NBA player Malik Beasley may be accused of rigging pro basketball games, but at least he picks up when his mother calls — most of the time.

The 29-year-old former guard's actor parents signed off on his $100,000 bond at a hearing in Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday, where his mom told a judge Beasley mostly picks up the phone when she calls.

“I probably call him every day. He may not answer every day,” Dorinda Beasley said. “If I call him six days a week he probably answers five times.”

“That’s a pretty good ratio,” Magistrate Judge Taryn Merkl told the 6-foot-4 guard, as he put his head down and smiled.

Beasley and co-defendant Paolo Zamorano, 39, pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy. Both were released on $100,000 bond.

Beasley is accused of fixing three games in 2024, when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ed Davis, a former teammate of Beasley on the Minnesota Timberwolves, acted as his “gatekeeper,” and the two decided which games Beasley would underperform and overperform in when it came to statistics like rebounds and points scored, according to the indictment against them.

He’d then give online gamblers the heads-up so they could place “prop bets” on Beasley’s performance, the feds allege.

As part of the arrangement, Beasley’s gambling debts to Davis would be reduced or paid off, the feds allege.

Zamorano, a former Division I men’s college basketball player, was Davis’ former agent. Three others are also charged in the case.

Beasley’s lawyer, Jason Goldman, said he looks forward to fighting the charges.

“He’s presumed innocent and that has to mean something, obviously,” Goldman said. “There’s a bigger conversation here about the industry, about individuals and institutions that are profiting millions of dollars and fuel addiction. And a larger, larger conversation needs to happen at some point.”