Former Lakers guard signs with Bad Bunny's Puerto Rican professional team

Jan 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at midcourt at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A 6-foot-4 former Los Angeles Lakers guard has yet to appear in an NBA game this season due to an off-the-court issue.

On Friday, the 29-year-old made the surprising decision to join Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican professional basketball team in an attempt to play his way back into the NBA.

“Free agent Malik Beasley has signed a deal to play in Puerto Rico for Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny's professional basketball team, Santurce Crabbers,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X/twitter.

“The team's season in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) league begins in March. Beasley has been under investigation for improper gambling allegations in the NBA since last year.”

“This gives Beasley the opportunity to showcase his skills ahead of 2026 free agency as he awaits a ruling on the NBA investigation.”

Before things quickly went downhill for Beasley, the Florida State product showcased his three-point shooting prowess with the Detroit Pistons in 2024-25. 

Beasley contributed 16.3 points per game while shooting 43.0% from the field and 41.6% from three on a Pistons squad that gave the New York Knicks a run for their money in the first round of the postseason. 

As a member of the Lakers during the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, Beasley averaged 11.1 points on 39.2% field goal shooting and 35.3% three-point shooting in 14 contests with the 17-time NBA champions. 

There’s no question that the ex-Lakers contributor's ultimate plan is to dominate in the BSN and earn another contract in the big leagues.

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