Despite the fact Michael Beasley has been on six NBA teams in his 10 year career, the Baltimore native still believes in his ability and the ability of his teammates no matter what team he plays on. On Tuesday, as a newly minted member of the Knicks, Beasley held court for Knicks media day giving more quotables than your favorite rapper.
One thing Beasley believed was that if things broke right, the Knicks could make the playoffs. It stands to note that some form of “if things broke right” about the Knicks has been said since the franchise last won an NBA Championship in 1973. Nevertheless, Beasley’s
“I’m still young, bro. I’m 28. I plan to play at least until I’m 43,” Beasley told the media. “So you do the math. My career is like none other, I think. I’ve wanted to be [at a high level] so long, but this or that or whether my fault or someone else’s fault, kept me [at a lower level]. I still think I have a chance to be one of the best in the NBA. I’m your favorite player’s favorite player. And it’s not enough for me for him to know that. I want the world to know that. So I’m still working hard as if I can be the best ever. If you doubt it, if you don’t believe it, it will just make my story and my triumph that much better.”
Beasley’s story is already one with many twists and turns, considering that he played in China for a short stretch in his mid 20’s, which is very rare. That said, Beasley went over to China and dropped buckets, averaging nearly 32 points and 14 rebounds per game on his way to winning the Foreign MVP award in the Chinese Basketball Association, following in the footsteps of Stephon Marbury. Similar to Marbury, Beasley is known to say very curious things to the media at times.
“If you watch my game, really watch my game, my jab series and all that, I’m literally just Carmelo on the left side of the floor,” Beasley told the media.
While Beasley and Carmelo game’s are similar in terms of mannerisms, the massive difference in both doesn’t really need to be said. It’s a simple case of one makes shots consistently and the other doesn’t, at least on an NBA court. That said, Beasley has said he’s made some physical changes in preparation for this NBA season.
“Yeah, man, I cut my diet,” Beasley told the media. “No more sugar, I eat two burgers or two steaks a month, one chicken sandwich a week, I’m like literally a step from vegan.”
Beasley previously mentioned that he wanted to play until he was 43, so changing his diet as he gets older makes a lot of sense and if the NBA doesn’t work out, perhaps we’ll see Beasley pushing out a new nutrition program for weight loss. But Beasley sets a good example to those who paid attention: No matter what, have confidence in yourself and do it irrationally.
