‘The whole world laughed at me. It hurt my feelings’

Former No. 2 overall draft pick Michael Beasley is eying a return to the NBA.

Before this season, Beasley played in the NBA’s Vegas Summer League with the Portland Trail Blazers and averaged 11.4 points on 44 percent shooting from the field and 45 percent from three-point range with 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 22.7 minutes per game.

The 33-year old forward, who hired agent Charles Briscoe of Briscoe Sports Group, has been training in Miami with Ronnie Taylor. Beasley and his representation have been in contact with several teams recently, with the trade deadline nearing and the buyout market beginning shortly afterward.

Following a recent workout, Beasley spoke with HoopsHype about his goal to return to the NBA, his career over the years, dealing with personal losses of family members behind the scenes, and more.

You were going to play for the Nets in the bubble before your positive Covid test. What was going through your mind then when you were about to return to the NBA?

Michael Beasley: I got food poisoning in the bubble. I think my fourth or fifth day quarantining, I woke up one morning, and I threw up maybe 20 times. I had to go to the hospital. I found out I had COVID in the hospital. It just went south from there.

What have you been up to since then?

MB: I’ve been staying in the gym and keeping my head down, trying to be as positive as I can be. I’ve been staying around some good people. If you watch my Instagram, I work out with John Wall, Tyreke Evans, and whoever is in town. I try to keep my mind on the goal no matter how dark it gets or unrealistic it may seem. I have dreams, and I want to be somebody remembered that, if not for anything else, somebody that fought for my dreams. These last three years, I’ve been in the gym every day working on my craft, getting stronger, sharpening my jump shot, sharpening my handles, defense one-on-one, or five-on-five….