Malik Beasley Cleared: NBA Star No Longer a Target in Federal Gambling Probe

A significant cloud has been lifted from the career of NBA guard Malik Beasley. Recent reports confirm that the Milwaukee Bucks player is no longer considered a target in the ongoing federal gambling probe that has sent shockwaves through the sports world, particularly concerning former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter.

The investigation, which initially cast a wide net, had previously identified Beasley as a person of interest.

His name surfaced due to social media interactions with Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara has since pleaded guilty to serious charges of bank and tax fraud, admitting to illegally gambling away nearly $17 million from Ohtani's accounts.

However, sources close to the inquiry have made it unequivocally clear: Beasley was never accused of placing bets on NBA games or violating any league rules.

His brief association with the federal probe was solely a consequence of his connections to individuals who were under investigation, not due to any alleged wrongdoing on his part. This distinction is crucial, as it separates Beasley from the illicit activities at the core of the scandal.

The federal inquiry primarily centers on alleged illegal gambling activities and the manipulation of games involving Jontay Porter.

The NBA has taken decisive action, banning Porter for life from the league following their own comprehensive investigation into his alleged gambling violations. This severe penalty underscores the league's zero-tolerance policy for activities that compromise the integrity of the sport.

For Beasley, this news represents a significant exoneration, allowing him to focus entirely on his basketball career without the shadow of federal scrutiny.

While the wider gambling scandal continues to unfold with its various implications for other figures, the update provides a welcome clarification for the Bucks guard, emphasizing that no other NBA players have been implicated in the probe to date.