Pro Baller Michael Beasley Opens Up About His Mental Health Woes & More
Source: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty
Michael Beasley was one of the top players in the 2008 NBA Draft, going second overall with the Miami Heat selecting the Kansas State Wildcats standout. Beasley, who has played for several NBA teams and abroad, recently appeared on a podcast and tearfully shared some of the ups and downs of his mental health woes.
Beasley, 33, was a guest on The Pivot podcast with hosts Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor. Beasley, a native of Prince George’s County, Md. and a former AAU teammate of Kevin Durant, shared the story of his basketball journey with the hosts while sharing some harrowing details of his life. In one especially revealing moment, Beasley told The Pivot team that he’s especially guarded after being taken advantage of by people he thought were close to him.
However, the moment that has everyone talking is when the hosts opened their arms up to Beasley who then began to tear up and lowered the shield around him while allowing himself to cry out in the open. With his voice cracking with emotion, Beasley just says meekly, “I’m tired,” but Clark and Crowder both said they’d do anything they could to help Beasley in his time of need. It was an especially powerful moment.
We started @thepivot to give our guest a safe space. That exactly what it was when Michael Beasley sat down with us! He’s searched for good people his entire life, & he’s tired.
“It’s ok to be tired” @FredTaylorMade @OfficialCrowder @alicialauren pic.twitter.com/T794EJkaEi
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) March 15, 2022
If anything, Beasley’s emotional expression garnered him more support than he’s ever gotten over the course of his playing career. It should be noted too that for a time, Beasley showed extreme promise as a player and was a double-digit scorer in the league with a dynamic set of skills. Hopefully, his mental health journey will somehow lead him back to the court.
Check out the reactions from Twitter below.
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Photo: Getty
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1.
God cover Michael Beasley.
— Van Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) March 15, 2022
2.
This might be yalls best interview @thepivot ,I appreciate the transparency from Michael Beasley. pic.twitter.com/pUxqW3rvCk
— Coach Tate
(@LBCoachTate) March 15, 2022
3.
“I’m not scared to cry in front of grown men because at the same time you call me soft, I’ll beat the sh*+ outchu.” -Michael Beasley#Bar
— Manu Muasau, M.A. (@jake_da_uce) March 16, 2022
4.
Man that @thepivot episode with Michael Beasley. pic.twitter.com/HgYJeaGe4I
— K.I.N.G. (@Kaptain_Deny) March 15, 2022
5.
Michael Beasley just kept saying “I just want to play basketball” and at first I just thought he was talking about playing in the league. But he was legit saying “I just want to play ball”. Even when they were asking to help him he was like “y’all hoop”….I felt that.
— World Champion JT (@mr_jt412) March 15, 2022
6.
Hearing JR Smith and Michael Beasley bare their souls on these podcasts should be eye opening as hell to the way certain platforms portray a lot of these athletes.
— Kazeem Famuyide (@Kazeem) March 16, 2022
7.
Sad Michael Beasley isn’t going to get credit as one of the best scorers the game has ever seen
— year 19 (@johnrivers131) March 15, 2022
8.
every black man needa watch Michael Beasley pivot episode no bullshit
— WAVEMADEIT (@trillcoxsby) March 16, 2022
9.
Put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you try to get off your jokes. Too many folks out here playing when it ain’t time to play. Shoutout to Michael Beasley for being unafraid. https://t.co/rvpVzlBd7j
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) March 15, 2022
10.
Will always root for Michael Beasley. pic.twitter.com/1ENSuSlIbi
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops_) March 15, 2022
11.
You can’t explain million dollar problems to somebody who ain’t never seen $10 before
~ Michael Beasley
— Ya Fav Therapist
(@iam_flykicks) March 16, 2022
12.
I feel you Michael Beasley. I be tired too.
— Truffle Oil Papi (@AlajuwonUrHero) March 15, 2022
13.
Why can't u make the headline say "ex NBA star Michael Beasley opens up about life, mental health and his career in new interview with @thepivot "
Smh https://t.co/nlf7Aw04Jc— Juggs Bunny (@ILoveCalinda) March 16, 2022
14.
Michael Beasley should easily be a 200+ M’s guy in the association.. crazy how life works smh give my guy one more shot in the A
— Derrick Washington Sr. (@CoachDucci) March 15, 2022
15.
Man this Michael Beasley interview is sad. I hate to see a brother feel like he has to conquer this world alone. I hope him being transparent opens some doors and heals some things he’s been carrying all his life
— Just Tise
(@Just_Tise) March 15, 2022
16.
Watching Michael Beasley interview on The Pivot touched my soul. I felt it on such a deep level. A spiritual one. “…I’m tired”. I felt that. He took so many words out of my mouth. Real talk.
— Julito McCullum (@IamJulito) March 16, 2022
17.
Yo this Michael Beasley interview on the Pivot Podcast is a heartbreaking. Def praying for that brother & wishing him all the best in everything he does.
— TYE (@WhosTYE) March 16, 2022
