Michael Beasley had a tough decision to make this past summer — to take a $12 million multi-year offer with a Chinese team or to join the New York Knicks on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $2.1 million.
While many have chosen to follow the money, Beasley has stayed true to a concept he's always gone by.
“Money doesn't always define basketball,” Beasley said, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.
“Yeah, I want a lot of [money]. But I want to prove that I'm the best. The ball will tell you who the best players are, not the contracts, not the media.”
Despite playing at the same position as star forward Kristaps Porzingis and former Knickerbocker Carmelo Anthony, Beasley chose to move to the Big Apple and continue his pursuit of a chance in the NBA.
The lefty has his idiosyncrasies and while he's often misunderstood, one particular comparison between his skill level and LeBron James' and Kevin Durant's brought the attention of the media. Not for Durant, though.
“I was feeling him, because he is [just as talented],” said Durant, who is a childhood friend of Beasley, having played together in his native Maryland. “He can score from anywhere. He can score on anybody.”
Durant is not alone in this sentiment, given that even people in the coaching ranks agree with Beasley's statement.
“He scores like the rest of us breathe, he's unbelievable,” one member of an opposing coaching staff said. “I always say that if there was a one-on-one tournament, make it, take it, I'm going with Beas.”
The move to play for New York ultimately panned out for Beasley, who has gotten more minutes than expected upon Anthony's departure to OKC and the unfortunate injury to Kristaps Porzingis, now hoping to make enough noise to warrant keeping his NBA stint alive.
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