Michael Beasley: Off-Court Issues [2023 Update]

May 2024 · 21 minute read

Michael Beasley Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Beasley is among the most popular players in the NBA and was famous for making bad decisions like a champ.

Unfortunately, he was mainly known for his badass hooligan personality rather than his gameplay on the court.

Michael’s profile is just loaded with some silly bloopers, grams of marijuana, frequent visits with cops, and the fashioning of a nasty reputation.

Beasley shared that LeBron James breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s four decades scoring record won’t silence his critics even after his incredible career on February 6, 2023.

For the curious minds, the left-handed Michael Beasley is a professional basketball player who started his journey with Miami Heat after being drafted in the 2008 NBA Draft.

He played with six different teams, took his name to CBA, and left his footprint as one of the best scorers.

Michael remained a collegiate athlete at Kansas State University for one year.

No on-court accomplishments can counter-balance his off-court distractions and immaturity. But he chose this path where weed weighed more importance than professionalism.

Let’s hop into his side of the story and deeply explore Michael Beasley’s life. But before that, peeping into the quick facts is a must. So, let’s get started.

Quick Facts

Full NameMichael Paul Beasley Jr.
Birth DateJanuary 9, 1989
Birth PlaceCheverly, Maryland
Nick NameB-Easy, The Roomba
ReligionNot known
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityBlack
EducationNotre Dame Preparatory School, Kansas State University
HoroscopeCapricorn
Father’s NameMichael Beasley Sr.
Mother’s NameFatima Smith
SiblingsLeroy Ellison, Malik Smith Beasley, Mychaela Beasley, And Tiffany Couch
Age34 Years Old
Height6 ft 9 in / 2.06 m / 206 cm
Weight238 lb / 108 kg
Shoe SizeNot known
Hair ColorBlack
Eye ColorBlack
BuildAthlete
Marital StatusSingle
GirlfriendNot known
KidMikaiya Beasley And Michael Beasley III
PositionPower Forward / Small Forward
ProfessionNBA Player
Net Worth$10 Million
SalaryNot Known
AssociationMiami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Shanghai Sharks, Shandong Golden Stars, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, And Los Angeles Lakers
LeagueNBA
Active Since2008-2019
Social MediaInstagram, Twitter
MerchTrading-Card
Last UpdateNovember 2023

Early Life & Family

Michael Beasley was born on January 9, 1989, to his parents, Fatima Smith and Michael Beasley Sr., in the Prince George’s Country town of Cheverly, Maryland.

Michael grew up with his four siblings (two brothers and two sisters), namely Leroy Ellison, Malik Smith Beasley, Mychaela Beasley, and Tiffany Couch.

Beasley childhood friends were Kevin Durant and Nolan Smith, and he remains friends with both players to this day.

Michael’s family moved to Frederick in 2005 and lived there for a year, except for his father.

Little has been revealed about his early life, parents, and childhood, but his childhood was not as simple.

He went to six high schools during his boyhood, one of which was Oak Hill Academy. They expelled him for spraying paint on the principal’s car.

Michael got committed to the act to win a bet he made with a classmate, Ty Lawson. Quite a troublemaker and a rebel at the same time.

However, things were not that smooth between his parents. The star basketball player mentioned that he did not have an ideal father to follow in his footsteps.

Therefore, Michael shared a good bonding with his mother. Michael’s mother worked a panel of jobs. Sometimes, she also worked two times a day.

But later, when things fell into place, she became a co-owner/ general manager at the Hair Spa Salon at Woodmore Town Center. 

He lost his mother because of cancer in December 2018. The sources also revealed that she was in a relationship with James Cussaac.

High School Stats

From the very early days, Beasley was into basketball. He played for PG Jaguars, one of the country’s most successful AAU youth teams.

Later, he also put a step forward by playing for DC Assault’s 17 and under team.

He had a good relationship with future KSU teammates Ron Anderson, Austin Freeman (Georgetown), Julian Vaughn (Georgetown), and others. 

He went to Bowie High School in Bowie, Maryland, and National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he completed his freshman year.

Michael joined the Pendleton School in Bradenton, Florida, and Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where he completed his sophomore season and scored 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game in 2004.

Following that, Michael completed his junior year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia scoring 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game.

He also attended Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. During his senior year, Michael had a single-game of 64 points and 34 rebounds.

He was rated as the No. 1 in the class of 2007 high school basketball prospects by Rivals.com.

College Highlights

Michael attended the University of Kansas to garner his college career with his athletic capacity. During his tenure, he was the most dominant player in the country.

He was recognized for his 26.2 points (3rd in the nation ) and 12.4 rebounds, which were the most by a Big 12 player in any season.

People called him an unstoppable force as he displayed his skills explicitly.

His impressive victory records include a win at Oklahoma, a home victory against Texas A&M, and a win against then un-matchable No. 2 Kansas.

Michael played for the entire 2007-2008 season. However, he decided to forgo his last three years of eligibility and participate in the NBA Draft.

Awards & Honors

Well, speaking of his college career, not bringing about his accomplishments would be incomplete.

As per sources, he is one of just two players to grab the first-team All-America recognition in the Kansas State University from the Associated Press.

Michael was among the top 24 finalists for the John R. Wooden Player of the Year award and was voted for the 10-member 2008 John R. Wooden Award All-American team.

He was the fourth player in school history to be named the Conference’s Player of the Year and the first since the inception of the Big 12.

Michael became the 12th overall pick in the Freshman or Newcomer of the Year since 1970 and was named league Freshman of the Year.

The basketball player was named a first-team Freshman All-American by CBS Sports and Rivals.com.

He was named National Freshman of the Year by CBS Sports.com, The Sporting News, the U.S. Basketball Writers, and Rivals.com.

Beasley also came under the top four for the 2008 Naismith Player of the Year Award and the top ten for the Oscar Robertson Player of the Year award.

Professional Career

The Miami Heat drafted Michael second overall in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft on June 26, 2008.

He also played for Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and more. 

Miami Heat 

Michael played for the Heat for at least two years. After being drafted, he signed up with them on July 2, 2008. He scored 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists in the NBA Summer League.

In his first official practice with the Heat, he was hit in the chest accidentally by an unidentified fellow’s elbow.

He was evaluated and returned to the team a day later with chest bruising and joined in the non-contact play.

He also slightly cracked his sternum and continued contact drills after 2 days.

Michael showed his power-packed performance against the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, and Memphis Grizzlies.

He and fellow rookie Mario Chalmers were fined multiple times for violating the team’s policy.

Michael shared a chained relationship with the Heat. He had his third stint with the team on March 8, 2015, on a 10-day contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves

After that, the Heat traded him to the Timberwolves on July 12, 2010, for 2011 and 2014 second-round draft picks.

He was transferred to clear salary-cap space for Miami. Well, that transfer worked as a plus point for the team.

Michael led the Timberwolves to a win over the Kings with an excellent 42 points and 9 rebounds. His performance was regarded among the top 20 in the league.

While playing against the Cavaliers, he sprained his foot. As a result, he was dismissed from eleven games, but that did not stop him. He again led his team to a win against the Rockets.

Phoenix Suns

Michael inked a three-year contract worth $18 million with the Suns on July 20, 2012. He played with his team and showed up against Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Lakers.

On September 3, 2013, they waived him shortly after being arrested for having kept marijuana.

The decision was just made to keep the team’s reputation and status.

As per Lon Babby, Sun’s president of basketball operation, “We worked hard to devote ourselves to Michael’s success, but we have to maintain the standards to build a championship culture.”

He again joined Miami Heat on 11 September and took the team to the finals but eventually failed to succeed.

You never know where your destiny takes you. He signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on September 25, 2014, and was waived in a month.

The same day, he cracked a deal with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Michael could not make it to the playoffs in the league’s All-Star game, but his performance showcased his capacity. 

As of the 30 October 2022 report, he left the Chinese League as he could not agree following his 7-figure deal signed in the off-season.

Jamaal Franklin was another player who departed from Shanghai Sharks around the same time.

Shandong Golden Stars

His basketball journey brought him back to China once again. Michael happened to sign a contract with the Golden Stars in 2015 for the 2015–16 CBA season.

He not only performed well with the scores like 63 points, 19 rebounds, and 13 assists for the South team but grabbed the CBA All-Star Game MVP award for the second straight year.

Michael was later named the league’s Foreign MVP for the 2015–16 season.

Houston Rockets

Michael elongated his NBA career, signing a deal with Houston Rockets in 2016. His 15-minute performance led his team to a win against Boston Celtics.

He had many season highs and lows scores for the team, but he never showed the stress. Along with his team, he played against Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.

Michael also joined the Bucks to play in place of Tyler Ennis. First, he faced a foot injury and missed five games, and later, he injured his knee and missed 17 games.

The trend of missing games due to injury remained ongoing. 

New York Knicks

Michael also signed up with the Knicks on August 8, 2017.

He played against teams like the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Detroit Pistons.

He scored some season-high points and became the first Knicks sub with a 32-12 game.

Los Angeles Lakers 

Michael had a short stint with the Lakers as well. But, most of the time, he just stayed out of the court to take care of his sick mother.

He and Ivica Zubac were traded to the Clippers for Mike Muscala on February 7, 2019. The Clippers waived Michael two days later.

During his brief stint with the Lakers, one of the few teammates that Michael would appreciate was LeBron James.

According to him, James was someone whom he obeyed as an older brother and tried to learn new things.

LeBron knew the game and extraordinarily played the game. He could dunk, run, throw, and score all simultaneously.

Following that, he joined Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2019.

Michael was signed by the Nets as a substitute player for the 2019-2020 season. But as the Coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, his contract was voided when he tested positive.

Cangrejeros de Santurce

Michael joined the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2021 NBA Summer League. He signed with the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in Puerto Rico on October 5, 2021.

Many sports sources reported that he did some damage to the opponents while playing the first game with the new team.

The Big3 announced that Beasley had signed with 3’s Company as a co-captain on May 11, 2022. 

Beasley was among eight freshmen from major conference programs who played in at least 10 games and averaged at least 20 points and eight rebounds per contest in the last three decades, as per the report on 26 January 2023.

Beasley shared his view on returning to the NBA, “Yeah, 100 percent. If they called, I ain’t gonna let my pride get in the way…100 percent.”

The Roomba said, “They gon’ keep hating,” after LeBron James surpassed the record made by Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

He said that the critics would not stop despite achieving heights in careers.

Career Highlights

Stats

YearGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Career60923822.8.465.349.7594.71.3.6.512.4
YearGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
College Career333331.5.532.379.77412.41.21.31.626.2
TeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Guangdong5533.500.333.6459.84.41.22.222.4

Personal Life

He has a magnetic personality that can attract any individual with his god-given height and semblance.

However, his private affairs have always been under the radar. After surfing quite a lot on the internet, we could not find his current relationship status.

Kids

Michael Beasley has two kids named Mikaiya, whom he welcomed in May 2009, and the other kid, Michael III, born on November 2010 from his former girlfriend.

Mother | Fatima Smith

On December 23, 2018, Fatima left this world after a battle with cancer. Beasley uploaded his mother’s picture with an angel emoji in an Instagram post.

And as per Sports Illustrated, when Michael got a speeding ticket in the fall of 2018, Fatima Smith confiscated his black 2003 Chevy Tahoe for fourteen days and asked him to write an apology letter to her.

Fatima stood by his side during all the thick and thin. 

Before her death, the son and mother duo attended the December 16 contest between the Lakers and Wizards when Michael showed up for the Lakers as an audience.

According to the sources, Fatima wanted to address a game while alive.

Arrests

At the NBA’s Rookie Transition Program, Beasley and fellow rookies Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were involved in an incident on September 3, 2008.

As the fire alarm buzzed, police responded to the rooms where Arthur and Chalmers strongly smelled of marijuana, but no charges were filed.

Both players were excused from the camp and were later fined $20,000 each for missing the rookie camp.

Later ESPN revealed Beasley was also in that room but did not face any consequences.

The basketball player confessed his involvement in the incident to league officials, that he ran out the door before the arrival of the police and was fined $50,000 by the league. 

He, Mario Chalmers, and Darrell Arthur also breached the program policy by having women in the room that day.

Rehab & Tweet

As sources claimed, Michael checked into a Houston rehab center just days after tweeting a sentimental status that strictly drew people’s attention toward mental health.

Although the exact tweets were deleted, the Los Angeles Times reprinted them.

Those posts were embedded with a non-aligning picture with something like marijuana in the background. It made people doubt him more.

Trouble

Michael was again busted by the police on June 26 early morning at 3 a.m. in 2011 for speeding up to 84 mph in a 65 mph zone in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka.

The car also smelled like weed, according to the cops. As mentioned by the Associated Press, they discovered 16.2 grams of marijuana under the first passenger seat.

He also explained that the marijuana belonged to one of his friends he dropped off, and consequently, he was fined.

Yet Another Issue

The All-Star forward, Kevin Durant, was present there when Beasley threw hot water on the face of a fan during the exhibition game at Dyckman Park in New York.

As per Stefan Bondy and Daniel O’Leary of the New York Daily News, the brutal act resulted from the fan’s heckling behavior.

Some Ugly Truths Of AAU

On October 26, 2011, Beasley filed a case against his ex-agent, Joe Bell. 

As per the claim, Michael stated that Bell and Curtis Malone, a former AAU coach, would render him and his family gifts and money for years so that when Michael made the profit, he would get Bell employed as his agent.

Michael had known Bell since his high school days when he played for the AAU youth team.

To give it a tit-for-tat version, Michael did not give him the proposed penny, which was why Bell sued him in the first place.

The revelation made by Michael drew on the harsh reality of his youth as an AAU player.

A Similar Case 

The traffic police stopped Michael in the wee hours on January 25, 2013, driving 71 mph in a 45 mph zone around 1:10 a.m. It sabotaged his reputation again.

His vehicle had no plates or registration, and the police also discovered a loaded gun in the car’s back seat.

However, the cops allowed him to walk with only a citation and impounded the car. A sexual assault case involving him from January 13, 2013, was dropped in September 2014.

He was suspended for five games for disrupting the NBA’s anti-drug policy on August 8, 2019.

Good Bond With Kevin Durant

Few would know, but Michael shares a great friendship with the Sun’s power forward, Kevin Durant. They were friends way before starting in NBA. 

One of the aspects that brought them together was their common interest, basketball. Kevin was a few months older and a year senior to him during their high school days.

They played at AAU together and were considered the top high school players in the country.

They attended National Christian Academy in Maryland as freshmen and moved to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia when they were juniors. Then, jumping into their senior year, they attended different high schools.

While playing for the AAU youth team, both the buddies grabbed the national championships with their team. It’s different; they did not know they would be future NBA stars.

Not to mention, hopping into their college career, they both took the Big 12 Player of the Year titles. Also, they were on the first team of All-Americans.

They just needed one good season to prove their talent.

After their collegiate accomplishments, they were the number 2 picks in back-to-back NBA drafts.

Kevin prospered as an NBA champion and league MVP to bring on the aftermath, whereas Beasley played for six NBA teams with two bouts in China. Their NBA career took different paths.

They used to be equal, but Michael’s journey took a downfall, a dreadful turn. It was not that he lacked opportunities, but he kept himself aligned with some random troubles.

How Did Michael And Kevin Meet Each Other?

They grew up around the same locality. To be precise, they were just eleven years old, and sports brought them together and instilled the same spirit in them.

According to Michael, Kevin was his first-ever friend, the first-ever friend to go for sleepovers.

Both of them decided to pursue a career and basketball. They chose to put in the hard work and push each other to become the top players.

These two were brought together because of basketball and eventually became professional athletes playing in the big league. 

Also, to Kevin, Michael was the guy who grabbed all the attention; he was outgoing and confident. No matter how hard Kevin hit the gym, it came easy for Michael.

As an introvert, Kevin was gifted with height, handles, shooting power, and athleticism, whereas Michael did whatever it took to be there.

He did the same as Kevin did just the year after. Their lives seemed virtually identical until their NBA career started.

Nickname, B-Easy

Michael calls himself and likes being called B-Easy. He set his self-proclaimed nickname B-easy because he thinks he gets easy buckets and is easygoing.

Other than that, Michael has also been nicknamed Roomba. If you remember, Roomba was the name given to a robotic vacuum cleaner that would do all the floor cleanings and wipings when you are not home.

As Roomba did what it was advertised to do, the same happened in Beasley’s case; he made scoring look easy. To add on, he is a good rebounder and an average defender.

Michael’s Aim In Life

When asked where he stands in his career, he confessed how grateful he is to be here, and the hunger and desire to prove himself remain the same.

He is not that satisfied with what is ongoing in his life. He wants an organization and a coach to have faith in him to the point where he can win games.

Michael does not dream of scoring but strives harder to achieve fame and success as an all-rounder capable player.

Michael Beasley’s 28 Tattoos

If you are wondering, Michael, is just a huge fan of tattooing and simply likes being inked. It is just not that.

He has 28 tattoos over his body that speak of his religion, family, and some highlighting memories.

Michael has tattooed the word’ beast’ on his right forearm. He also got inked ‘Bliss,’ as he feels content with his work, success, and life accomplishments.

His right forearm is decorated with tiny tattoos like a dollar sign on his arm. According to him, the dollar sign keeps him going. He never stops.

In like manner, Michael has a Jesus Christ tattoo, a skull face tattoo, and other small tattoos all over his hand. 

He got several words inked, Easy MD, Married to the Game, Supercool Beas, ESF stands for Easy Streets Family, Can I Live, Family First; God’s son, Fatima Smith (his mother’s name), Eleanor, Laugh now cry later, Born to lose, and built to win.

Michael also got his son’s portrait on the bicep, which depicts his love for his son.

Net Worth, Income & Salary

The incredibly talented NBA player Michael Beasley has been doing it to keep the run in as a basketball champ.

Keeping the abysmal track record aside, he has devoted his mind, soul, and heart to the world of basketball.

Michael never had a smooth-sailing career; it was filled with highs and lows. But we cannot deny that he is solely and wholly responsible for destroying his once-promising career.

Michael is aware of all the bad things he has done and tries to learn from his mistakes. After all, who wants to sabotage their career when one has all the capability to rise and shine.

However, Michael has been a charm in the NBA and a star in the Chinese Basketball Association. His skills and confidence can never be ignored. Now, bringing straight to the numbers,

Michael Beasley’s net worth is $10 million as of 2023.

After signing for the Lakers, Michael earned an annual average salary of $3.5 million. 

Michael bought a farmhouse in Tennessee. Earlier, he had 11 or 12 branded cars, some of which were Range Ranger and a black Bentley Flying Spur.

But Beasley no longer owns lavish cars; he just has one car BMW, as of 2023.

He says he wants to live a peaceful life, and his world now revolves around his children.

Social Media Presence

Michael Beasley is active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, where he mainly updates about his basketball practice session. He also posts Instagram stories often.

TikTok: 259k followers

Instagram: 461k followers

Twitter: 74k followers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Is Michael Beasley still in the NBA?

Michael Beasley's last stint was with the Lakers; the team waived him within two days. Brooklyn Nets signed him, but because of COVID-19, his contract was voided by the team. There were rumors that Michael Beasley, with Lance Stephenson of Liaoning Flying Leopards and Jeremy Lin, would sign with the NBA G League. But Michael went bypassed. The Nets clarified that they would replace his roster spot as soon as possible. However, on October 5, Michael was back, and he signed with Cangrejeros de Santurce on the CBA.

Are Malik Beasley and Michael Beasley related?

No, they are not related. Only their last name is the same. Malik Beasley is also an NBA basketball player, but he is the son of Michael and Deena Beasley.

What happened between Michael Beasley and Draymond Green?

While Beasley was playing for the Lakers, Green accidentally pushed him, and when Beasley got up to talk to him, it resulted in a small argument. As a result, Beasley received a technical foul. However, Michael was eventually withdrawn from the game. Besides that, when he was playing for the Knicks in 2018, Draymond Green accidentally hit Beasley with his elbow, which caused a small cut on his eyebrow.

What is the jersey number of Michael Beasley?

Beasley has worn various jerseys while playing in different professional leagues. He used the number 8 while playing for Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Similarly, Michael used the number 9 for Milwaukee Bucks. Likewise, he wore the number 11 for the Lakers. Also, he used the number 0 for Phoenix Suns.

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