Michael Beasley has probably underachieved when taking his position as a former No. 2 overall pick into consideration. However, the former Kansas State forward and top-flight prospect has been an NBA contributor for nine seasons, and even in sometimes limited action, Beasley has a career scoring average of 12.6 points per game.
After a strong season in a reserve role with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016-2017, Beasley landed a deal with the New York Knicks. Now, in a lengthy interview with Marc Berman of the New York Post, the scoring forward put forth a self-imposed nickname that could be an all-timer.
“I’ll bring what they saw in college. I just need the opportunity to show that. Look at my nine-year career, I’ve always been close to a point a minute. I’ve always been a walking bucket. Nobody can stop me, hasn’t stopped me my last nine years. Every time I’ve touched the ball, the defender’s scared. I’m at the point of my career I’m just tired of not getting the acknowledgement of being who I am.
“I’ve always been the quiet, not-stand-up-for-myself-kind-of-guy. Not being disrespectful. But I want my respect. For the last nine years, I’ve been a walking bucket, man. Anytime you want a point, I’ll give you a point, no matter what the circumstances, who the player is defending me.’’
Yes, that is Michael Beasley repeatedly referring to himself as a “Walking Bucket,” and it is splendid.
Beasley’s personality, which is on full display in the interview, has always been entertaining, even when he is criticized. It is fair to say that, if anything, Beasley is underrated at this point as something of a redemption story, but he has been legitimately effective on the floor, and the nickname, given his scoring profile, is just about perfect.
From here, it will be on NBA fans (and Knicks fans, in particular) to make the nickname stick, but it is simply too good to disappear.
