Sued by His Barber, His Dentist, and His Agent — Malik Beasley Faces Lawsuits, Debt, and a Federal Gambling Probe as His NBA Future Hangs in the Balance
There was a time not too long ago when Malik Beasley looked like he had finally figured it all out. After bouncing between teams and playing a secondary role for years, he put together a strong season with the Detroit Pistons, proving he could still shoot lights out, stay durable, and be a dependable piece on a competitive roster. He had just come off an 82-game season where he averaged over 16 points per game and nailed more than 300 threes, finishing second in the entire NBA behind only Anthony Edwards. Detroit had made a surprise push into the playoff picture after years in the league’s basement, and Beasley’s hot shooting was a big part of that. The Pistons were reportedly preparing a 3-year, $42 million deal to keep him in the fold. Things were lining up. His basketball value was rising again, and for a moment, it seemed like stability was just around the corner.
But just as quickly as the momentum built, it all started to crumble.
A federal gambling investigation surfaced in late June 2025, revealing that Malik Beasley was being looked into for potentially betting on NBA games — including player props tied to his own performance — during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2023–24 season. While no formal charges have been filed and Beasley’s lawyer was quick to clarify that being investigated is not the same as being charged, the cloud hanging over his name suddenly grew darker. The NBA has been cracking down on gambling-related behavior after the high-profile lifetime ban of Jontay Porter, and even whispers of involvement in illegal or rule-breaking gambling can stop a player’s market dead in its tracks.
That’s exactly what happened with Beasley.
The Pistons immediately paused their contract talks. What was once a near-done deal worth over $40 million is now sitting in limbo. And as more layers of Beasley’s situation unraveled, it became clear that the gambling probe was only one part of a much deeper and more personal storm. Reports emerged that Malik Beasley had been facing serious financial troubles — not just with large corporate contracts, but with everyday people and basic debts. It turns out his former sports agency, Hazan Sports Management, had sued him earlier in the year for breach of contract, claiming he owed more than $650,000 in unpaid advances, with the potential total climbing as high as $2.25 million. That case alone would be enough to generate headlines, but it didn’t stop there.
Beasley was also sued by his former barber in Milwaukee, Cairo Cuts, for failing to pay a $26,827 tab. A court ruled in the barber’s favor back in January, and Malik’s wages were garnished directly from his Pistons paychecks. Then came another suit from Delicate Smiles, a Minnesota-based dentist, claiming he owed $34,390 for unpaid services. That case also resulted in wage garnishment, beginning in February of this year. These are not celebrity-level lawsuits involving millions of dollars. These are the kind of debts that regular people sue over when they’ve tried everything else and finally decide to take it to court. They paint a picture that no NBA player wants attached to their name — especially not one entering free agency.
There were also reports of unpaid rent in Detroit. Beasley was taken to court by The Stott, a high-end property management company, twice. The first case was dismissed, but the second, involving over $7,000 in rent, is currently pending with a hearing scheduled for mid-July. And perhaps most damaging of all, a separate court case in Maryland resulted in a judgment of nearly $5.8 million against him. That case involved South River Capital LLC, a financial firm that had reportedly given Beasley a bridge loan, with his future NBA earnings pledged as collateral. When Beasley failed to meet the terms, they sued — and won.
It’s rare to see this many simultaneous lawsuits hit a public figure in such rapid succession. Even rarer when that figure is an active NBA player, fresh off a career-best season. But for Beasley, the last few months have been nothing short of a financial and reputational disaster. The media coverage hasn’t been kind, and fans are left wondering how a player who seemed to be on the upswing could find himself in this kind of chaos so quickly.
The truth is, Beasley’s story has never been clean-cut. He was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2016 and bounced around the league in the years that followed — with stops in Minnesota, Utah, the Lakers, Milwaukee, and most recently, Detroit. He served a jail sentence in 2021 after pleading guilty to threats of violence involving a firearm, missing the playoffs that year. He’s always been one of the better volume three-point shooters in the league, even hitting over 1,000 threes in the past four seasons — one of only two players alongside Stephen Curry to do so. But his off-court decisions have often cast a shadow over his on-court talent.
This latest round of lawsuits and investigations has only widened that shadow.
To his credit, Beasley has reportedly begun settling some of the debts. According to BET and several other sources, the payments owed to both the barber and dentist have recently been made. But that doesn’t erase the headlines, and it doesn’t undo the damage already done to his reputation — both in NBA circles and among fans. The bigger legal issues — like the massive judgment from South River Capital and the unresolved agency lawsuit — still loom large. And the federal gambling probe hasn’t disappeared. It may take months before any formal decision is reached, but until then, Beasley is in limbo.
NBA teams are cautious by nature, and the current climate surrounding gambling makes this kind of situation even more dangerous. Beasley may still find a new team this offseason, but it likely won’t be on the terms he hoped for. That $42 million Detroit deal now feels more like a fantasy than a possibility. Instead, he may have to settle for a one-year “prove it” deal — possibly even a veteran minimum contract — just to keep a roster spot and rebuild his image.
It’s a harsh fall, especially for a player who just proved he could be reliable, healthy, and productive. But in the NBA, talent is only one piece of the puzzle. Trust matters. Stability matters. And right now, too many questions surround Malik Beasley for any franchise to make a major financial commitment. He’s become a cautionary tale almost overnight — not just about off-court distractions, but about the importance of financial responsibility and reputation management in a league where eyes are always watching.
There’s still time for Beasley to turn things around. He’s only 28. His skill set — shooting, spacing the floor, staying healthy — is still valuable. If he can move past the legal troubles, clear the air regarding the gambling probe, and stay focused on basketball, there’s no reason he can’t return to being a respected contributor on a playoff team. But it won’t happen automatically. He’ll have to earn back the trust that’s been lost — not just from teams, but from fans, teammates, and the league itself.
For now, Beasley waits. His name is still trending for all the wrong reasons. The barber lawsuit went viral. So did the dentist. The gambling headlines brought the biggest media storm yet. And all of it has placed his career at a crossroads. Will he use this as fuel to come back stronger? Or will the weight of it all prove too much?
That’s the question only time can answer. But one thing is clear: Malik Beasley’s story just took a sharp turn. And how he responds from here will define not only his basketball future, but how he’s remembered long after the lights fade.