Michael Beasley Regrets Not Listening to Pat Riley after Exhausting $33 Million Earnings

Pat Riley is known for his strict rules, and the Maryland native revealed that he knew how people were stationed opposite players’ homes to keep an eye on them. That was too much for the rookie.

Michael Beasley reveals how he went against Pat Riley’s advice

The 36-year-old did not grow up with much and was head over heels after signing a 2-year, $8.85 million deal. That new money got to Michael Beasley’s head, and he then went on to detail what he did instead of listening to the Heat president.

I went the polar opposite, and my excuse to him was ‘I grew up in an apartment, I need some space.’ So I got a six-bedroom house, got three dogs, had three, four of my friends staying there, and that’s where all of the problems came from.

Michael Beasley said

The now BIG3 star revealed that, along with all of his luxuries, he was also pulled into helping his relatives. Charles Barkley once advised young players to avoid getting pulled into family issues.

The Hall of Famer believed that family was the first to drain an athlete’s money, and Beasley faced that exact problem. He revealed how he would pay for lawyers so that his relatives could get bail. He helped his uncle, who was fighting a RICO case.

All of these difficulties burdened his finances and also impacted his performances on the court. Where Pat Riley wanted him to focus on his play, the then-rookie was instead trying to solve real-world problems.

Michael Beasley regrets his inability to say ‘no’

Every prospect coming into the NBA is blessed with money. For many, it is generational wealth. Most of them are not skilled at handling their finances and end up broke.

Some are clever and play hard to earn that second contract. In Michael Beasley‘s situation, he could not do so and detailed what he could have done better to avoid being in this mess.

I just wish I had the confidence to tell everybody ‘no’. Let me get to my second contract first. My problems would have been my problems. Most of the problems people know me for was me taking the rap for other people around me.

Michael Beasley said

The forward revealed that he would not want his daughter, Mikaiya Beasley, to face the situations he has. He would not want to go to her with his problems in the future.

Since his relatives did not think of it that way, the former Miami Heat star was left to handle it all. That, along with his claims that his family stole from him, he ended up with nothing.