The most unlikely and random headline of 2026 may have just arrived. Malik Beasley has reached a deal to play in Puerto Rico for the Santruce Crabbers, a team owned by Bad Bunny, who just took center stage in the most widely watched Super Bowl Halftime Show ever. It may sound like word soup, but it's a lifeline to putting Beasley's career back together.
According to Shams Charania, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) starts play in March and will offer Beasley a chance to put his game on display as he tunes up for what could be a possible return to NBA action for the 2026-27 season.
Beasley is currently out of the NBA and is under investigation for his part in improper gambling allegations. The allegations date back to games and prop bets from the 2023-24 season during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks. Beasley has not been charged, and his lawyer maintains his innocence.
Beasley, drafted 19th by the Nuggets in the first round of the 2016 draft, played three and a half seasons for Denver, averaging just 7.4 points per game. Beasley was then traded at the 2020 trade deadline as part of a 4-team deal, where he landed in Minnesota and took on a larger role in the offense on his way to 20.7 points per game to finish the season.
The news came from left field
The random news update caught NBA fans completely off guard; however, it makes a lot of sense for Beasley. While he's unable to compete in the NBA while the investigation continues, it does not preclude him from playing overseas. Beasley, a Florida State graduate, averaged 16.3 points per game for the Pistons last season and finished runner-up for the NBA 6th Man of the Year award.
The BSN, founded in 1929, is Puerto Rico's premier basketball league, featuring 12 teams from across the island. The BSN has produced NBA talent before, and alumni include Carlos Arroyo, and J.J. Barea.
But it's the coaches who made stops in Puerto Rico that really turn your head. According to WIkipedia, Del Harris, P.J. Carlesimo, Herb Brown, Bernie Bickerstaff, and even 11-time champion Phil Jackson coached the Piratas de Quebradillas the year before becoming an assistant for the Chicago Bulls in 1987. And legendary coaches such as Dr. Jack Ramsey, Tex Winter, and Red Holzman made stops in the 50's and 60's. Who knew the BSN was a hotbed of hall-of-fame coaches?