michael beasley

Michael Paul Beasley Jr. was born on January 9, 1989, in Cheverly, Maryland. He established himself as a prominent basketball talent early on, attending six different high schools including Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. During his high school career, he earned recognition as a second-team Parade All-American and was named to the 2006 USA Men’s U18 National Team, averaging 13.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Beasley also received the MVP award at the 2007 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. His exceptional performance led him to be rated as the No. 1 high school basketball prospect in the class of 2007 by Rivals.com.

Beasley continued his basketball journey with a single, impactful season at Kansas State University in 2007-2008. He quickly became one of the nation’s most dominant players, leading the country in rebounds per game with 12.4 and ranking third in scoring with 26.2 points per game. He set a freshman record with 28 double-doubles, surpassing Carmelo Anthony’s previous mark. His impressive college performance earned him numerous accolades, including Consensus first-team All-American, USBWA National Freshman of the Year, and Big 12 Player of the Year in 2008. His single-game highlight at Kansas State included a Big 12 record of 44 points and 15 rebounds against Baylor in February 2008. He holds 30 Kansas State records and 17 Big 12 marks, showcasing his significant influence despite playing only one collegiate season.

Following his collegiate career, Michael Beasley was selected as the 2nd overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft, marking the beginning of his professional career. Over 11 seasons in the NBA, he played for several teams, including two stints with the Miami Heat, and also played internationally in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) where he achieved significant success. His international career highlights include being a CBA champion in 2019 with the Guangdong Southern Tigers, a CBA Foreign MVP in 2016, and a two-time CBA All-Star and All-Star Game MVP in 2015 and 2016. In the NBA, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009. His career statistics reflect a versatile player, with averages of 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over 609 NBA games.