Michael Beasley is Erasing His Unwarranted Bust Label and Becoming a Star
When the Miami Heat traded Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves this past summer, very few had anything positive to say about the 22-year-old. Well times have changed and Beasley is quickly shedding his label of NBA-bust and in doing so, has talks stirring of him being a star on the rise, as he’s emerged as the Minnesota Timberwolves leading man.
Only 11 games into the season, Beasley is averaging 21.2 points per game. At the small forward position, only Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Rudy Gay and LeBron James average more per game. However, unlike them or any other small forward averaging better than 20 per game, Beasley is the only one doing it while playing less that 37 minutes per game. He’s currently averaging only 31.5 minutes per game.
He has a per36 rating of 24.0 points per game, only four-tenths of a point off that of All-Star and FIBA World Champion Kevin Durant, who just so happens to lead the NBA in scoring.
Beasley Still Dealing With Haters
There are those who remain skeptical of Beasley’s early success. They are quick to suggest that it won’t last and that he is anything but a good player. This is evident by an article published by Kevin Pelton of ESPN. Peyton sited that despite Beasley’s All-Star like numbers and efficient play, he has showed no real formula for big time success.
“Beasley just enjoyed his best week as a pro. The No. 2 overall pick in 2008 averaged 29.8 points as Minnesota split four games and played tough in road losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks. The highlight of Beasley's coming-out party was a 42-point outburst Wednesday in Sacramento, making him one of four players this season to score 40 or more. But despite the gaudy numbers and efficient shooting, it is not yet clear that Beasley has found a sustainable formula for big-time scoring success”
It almost seems as if he wants to suggest that Michael Beasley is nothing more than lucky. Clearly he isn't a person that shouldn't be held in high-regard on matters of the NBA.
No Need to Doubt Beasley’s Early Success
I’ll admit that Beasley is on an incredible tear over his past four games, averaging 32.5 points, while shooting a blistering 54.5% from the floor. But it has little to do with luck and mostly to do with him regaining confidence in his own abilities.
What Beasley is doing offensively is nothing knew to anyone that has watched his career from an objective view. For instance, prior to a knee injury versus the Toronto Raptors in January of last season, Beasley was on a similar tear where he recorded seven 20-plus-point games in a 11 game time frame. Keep in mind he was a third option behind Dwyane Wade and Jermaine O’Neal for the Miami Heat last season. It should also be noted that four of those games he played less than 32 minutes.
During his rookie season he would finish the year with five consecutive games of scoring more than 22 points. He shot better than 50% in all five of the games and played less than 25 minutes in the final two games.
What’s even more impressive is the 4-5 record he lead the Heat to in games that Dwyane Wade missed due to injures over his two years in Miami. This is even more impressive when one considers that five of the games came against teams that made the playoffs.
Of the five loses, four came versus playoff teams (Boston, Dallas, Atlanta and Milwaukee). The Beasley lead Heat would lose by no more than six points only once (Milwaukee). Beasley would lead the team in scoring in six of the nine games, all of which were games were he recorded 21 or more points.
So as you can see, this early season success is anything but luck and doesn't lend way for much doubt that it won’t continue.
Michael Beasley Is a Star on the Rise
Currently Beasley isn’t receiving much love from the media as he is still stuck in the shadow of a teammate, Kevin Love. It’s a position he seemingly struggled with in Miami at times but seems to be thriving at while being in Minnesota.
This is partly due to the fact that he’s only in Kevin Love’s shadow according to the media. In the Timberwolves organization, Beasley is the teams go to player and leader on and off the floor. That isn’t going to change how much his detractors try to paint false situations.
Thus far this season, Beasley leads the Timberwolves in points per game, minutes per game, field goal percentage and three point percentage. He’s second in steals per game, blocks per game, free throw attempts and defensive rebounds per game. He’s third in total rebounds. And fourth in assist per game, which also places him ahead of Kevin Love, who’s always credited for being good at finding teammates.
Not even players like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony can lay claims to the statistical dominance of Beasley in regards to their respective clubs. And as each game passes, it’s clear that Michael Beasley has made a turn for the better of his career.
That star that had shined so bright in its lone season at Kansas State University, yet was often nothing more than a flicker in Miami, is now beaming with a glow that is covering the entire NBA.
No longer can Beasley be called a failure, misfit, underachiever, or bust. He is now a star on the rise and one that doesn’t look like it’s about to fade into the night anytime soon.
