Michael Beasley has had a disappointing career as a professional. At the collegiate level, Beasley was a man amongst boys. In his lone season at Kansas State, he averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game on 53.2 percent shooting. After his freshman year, he declared for the 2008 Draft and was selected second overall by the Miami Heat.
Beasley hasn’t exactly panned out as an NBA player, but his talent as a prospect was tremendous. Beasley believes that he’s up there with the very best in terms of talent, he told Bleacher Report:
Beasley, though, has a different view of why he never grew into the player so many expected him to become.
“[It’s] mostly perception. As far as talent-wise, I match up with Kevin [Durant], LeBron, I match up with the best guys in the world,” Beasley says. “I’m not being cocky; it’s just always how I felt. But I got into trouble as soon as I got into the NBA, and it left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.”
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“No disrespect to anyone I play with,” he says, “but I’ll be playing behind guys who I don’t think can do anything with me as far as talent-wise, and 20-year-old me would have been like, ‘Bro, F that guy. I’m better than him, he’s taking 20 shots and only getting 18 points. Give me the same shots, and I’ll get more.’
Even as far as talent goes, Beasley isn’t up there with guys like James and Durant. He’s more talented than his career averages of 12.6 points and 4.7 rebounds would suggest, though.
It’s a bit of a mystery as to why Beasley didn’t pan out. His per-game averages are certainly nothing to sniff at; averaging nearly 13 & 5 in the NBA isn’t easy. He was obviously projected to be a star, however, and that didn’t happen.
Beasley signed with the Knicks on a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum this summer.
