Life after the NBA can be tough for former professional basketball players. When playing basketball is at the center of one's life, and suddenly, it's taken away, it can be jarring to the point where people go through a period of depression.
For former second-overall pick Michael Beasley , it was a difficult reality to face, especially these days, when he sees the player he was often compared to the most during his collegiate days— Kevin Durant —remains an elite player in the NBA.
He opened up about this heartbreak during his recent appearance on the "Club Shay Shay" show, claiming he's "heartbroken" about the way his NBA career ended when he was only 30.
Some may find it hard to believe, but Beas is only 37. He's still hooping, but no longer under the bright lights of the NBA. Instead, he's lighting it up in the BIG3, the 3-on-3 league founded by Ice Cube. With a BIG3 title and two MVP trophies, Beasley has proven he still has a lot of gas left in his tank.
However, being no longer in the Association is something that still crosses Beasley's mind from time to time, even when he's now focused on raising his family and minding his own business.
"Trying to raise my kids. Just playing, just going to the gym, hooping, paying $1,500 a month for a phone bill 'cause, you know, I got that many of them," Beasley responded when asked what he's been up to lately.
"I don't care about this social media s—t. I don't care about these podcasts or these Big3s. I was just—I was just happy being depressed about not being in the NBA," he added.
" Kevin Durant still playing and I'm a year younger than him. You don't think I want to still be—you don't think I still—yes, absolutely. I was—yeah—heartbroken."
It's a bitter pill to swallow for Beasley considering how he and Durant grew up together in Prince George County in Maryland and dominated the AAU scene while playing for the PG Jaguars.
Decades later, KD is considered an all-time great and first ballot Hall of Famer who's still an automatic bucket in the NBA. Beas, on the other hand, is a part-time hooper who's trying to get through life.
Discussing Beasley's basketball career will never be linear. Yes, he possessed undeniable talent to the point that many called him a "Walking Bucket." One-on-one, nobody could stay in front of Michael, thanks to his potent combination of size, speed, savvy and just that "it" factor when it came to getting points on the board.
However, as seven NBA teams found out, dealing with Beasley was never always about basketball. Yes, teams had access to his prodigious basketball ability, yet at the same time, they also had to deal with his baggage.
And after his NBA chapter closed in 2019, he remained so absolute in his belief that he belonged in the league that he took it out on some of his peers.
"I was just so depressed. Iman Shumpert came in the gym one day and I dogged his a—s. I love you, son, but I merked his a— so bad that I started screaming this s—t 'cause I used to only say this in my head—we them ones!" he recalled.
The NBA has had many players tagged with that "what-if"; Beasley belongs on that list, as many continue to wonder just how good he might have been if he had everything figured out during his time in the league.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
