Former Heat Prodigy Details Why Career Went Left

“So, I wish the confidence to tell everybody no. Just let me get to my second contract first… And most of the ****-ups that people was me taking the wrap for other people around me and me just being a famous person.”

Athletes Are Human

Beasley isn’t the first player to feel as if the off-court issues surrounding his inner circle bled too far into his life. These aren’t always legal situations. Last year, recently retired former NBA star John Wall opened up about how his mother’s passing ground down his mental health. That, in effect had a cumulative impact on his behavior and ultimately, career. Athletes are placed on superhuman pedestals, particularly professionals. However, just like anyone else, their environments and the mental, emotional or spiritual space that puts them in matters.

Rich Paul of Klutch Sports has weighed in on this as well. Speaking specifically about Beasley, the star agent says:

“But talent also has to be able to value infrastructure too. And I know Michael Beasley personally, and he is a good dude. And I’m sure if he had the opportunity to do it all over again, he would take a different approach.”

Riley wanted Beasley to “lock in and hoop.”

He couldn’t. At least, not how he wanted. By the time he and the Heat parted ways in 2015, his spotty reputation would precede him.

Out Of Position

Of course, the 36-year-old’s fate wasn’t only determined by those circumstances. Beasley has also decried the Heat’s desire for him to bulk up so that he could play like two-time NBA All-Star, Carlos Boozer. But at this point, telling him that he was wrong to want to have the physique and responsibilities of an offensive-minded small-forward –essentially just being himself –wouldn’t make much sense. Winning back-to-back BIG3 MVP awards as a scoring machine is a nice accomplishment, but he also has the respect of Hall of Fame players like Dwyane Wade, a Heat icon.

Still, coming out of Kansas State, Beasley’s style seemed more akin to a power forward for one reason. At 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, he was a boy among men on the boards. Keep in mind that the All-American averaged 12.4 rebounds per game in his one-and-done season with the Wildcats, leading the NCAA. His 408 total rebounds were a single-season record for Kansas State. He even broke the record for the most double-doubles in NCAA history.

Yet, he didn’t shy away from the 3-point arc. In fact, he shot 37.9 percent from 3 on 2.9 attempts per game. The Heat may have needed to pay more attention to that. Especially as he averaged 26.2 points per game, the third-highest average in the NCAA.