All Malik Beasley ever needed was an opportunity.
When the former Florida State Seminole was drafted in the first round by the Denver Nuggets, the hope was the athletic guard would develop into an uber-athletic three-level scorer.
Unfortunately for Beasley, he consistently found himself fighting for minutes. He would occasionally provide a spark off the bench but never got the chance to showcase what he was truly capable of.
Things abruptly changed when he was shipped to Minnesota right before the 2020 trade deadline. The Timberwolves had essentially hit the restock button and Beasley was an integral part of what the new front office looked for.
Immediately upon arriving in Minneapolis, you could tell Malik came with a chip on his shoulder. He didn’t waste very much time becoming a fan favorite after an electric debut against the Los Angeles Clippers. His passion and energy are contagious to a team that has often looked lackadaisical in the past. Beasley started every game for Minnesota until COVID-19 shut down last season.
Potential Fluke?
There was reason to believe Beasley’s 2019-2020 season numbers were partially inflated. Coming into a situation with no kind of expectations, he was able to play free and average north of 20 points per game in a Timberwolves uniform.
His previous career high was 11.3.
You never know if volume and efficiency will carry over when a player transitions into a bigger role (they rarely do). He still managed to post efficient career highs across the board. It is also important to note that he posted these numbers without the franchise’s cornerstone, Karl-Anthony Towns. Every indication was that Beasley’s numbers would take a hit to some extent.
Some theory that was.
Consistency
Incredibly enough, the ex-Nugget’s numbers this year are eerily similar to last. He is averaging nearly identical stat lines in terms of points, rebounds and assists. This is a testament to the hard work he has put into the game. If you keep with his frequent Instagram stories, you know 4 AM home workouts are typical in his daily routine. Despite all the legal off-court distractions facing Beasley this offseason, not even Scottie Pippen could slow him down from making moves on (and off) the court. He has certainly cemented his spot as a legitimate NBA starting guard.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1360387373024956417
Potential All-Star?
As many Minnesota fans know, hometown all-star appearances are hard to come by. A small-market team with a poor record won’t get the benefit of the doubt regardless of how worthy they might be. In Beasley’s case, these factors likely stand true. Despite his impressive numbers, there are too many other big names who will likely sneak in before him. He appears to already have his eyes set on another all-star weekend festivity, however.
https://twitter.com/Mbeasy5/status/1361730847058100228
Regardless of what happens, he appears to be a big part of the young Wolves’ core for the foreseeable future.
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