Michael Beasley’s story is one of raw survival, quiet endurance, and undying love for the game of basketball. On a recent episode of the 3s and 1s podcast, the former No. 2 overall pick revealed something even his closest fans never knew: he was homeless for two years, all while continuing to hoop like nothing was wrong.
“I was sleeping in my car for like three years. Two years, two years. Thuggin’ it, like really thuggin’ it. Nobody knew. My mother always told me, ‘Never tell them when you up, so you ain’t gotta show them when you down’, you understand?”
“And that’s why I say, like, n***a, I went from crying for help to trying myself. Like everybody that’s on my line now, and everybody wanna, like, I don’t like you. Like, my stomach was growling, and tomorrow came.”
“I was hungry by myself, and tomorrow came. I don’t like you. I don’t have to like you. I like me. I like me, so I like me that much. Because I was there for me. But tomorrow came. I couldn’t let the sun beat me, n***a.”
In that one quote, Beasley captured the essence of silent suffering. Once seen as one of the most naturally gifted players of his generation, the man who once shared an NBA Draft stage with Derrick Rose was now sleeping in his car, hungry, cold, and alone, and still showing up to hoop. That kind of resilience doesn’t come from ego or vanity. It comes from pain, pride, and an unshakable bond with the sport.
Those haunting words paint the picture of a man who had nothing but his will. Beasley wasn’t chasing clout or pity. He was chasing the next sunrise and making sure it didn’t catch him slipping.
When asked why he kept playing, his answer cut deeper than any stat line ever could.
“Because the right answer never cared who said it. Yeah, I kept hoopin’. Why? Somebody gonna dribble the ball, right? It’s gonna dribble. The sun gonna come up. F**k, I’m here. Why not me?”
At 36 years old, Beasley is still hooping. He’s become one of the faces of the BIG3, Ice Cube’s professional 3-on-3 basketball league. Just recently, a clip of Beasley going one-on-one against John Wall went viral as the two former NBA stars turned the court into a battleground.
Even more memorably, Beasley absolutely destroyed Lance Stephenson in a 1v1 BIG3 matchup, looking every bit like the man who once dropped 30 in an NBA game without breaking a sweat.
Where is he now? Still competing, still cooking defenders, and still refusing to quit. Beasley even challenged Carmelo Anthony to a one-on-one, declaring he would “destroy him” if given the chance. That’s who he is, always ready for the next fight, the next bucket, the next chance.
Despite being out of the NBA spotlight, Beasley has found peace and pride in his journey. His estimated net worth is around $12 million, but that number hardly reflects what he’s endured. From sleeping in a car to starring in the BIG3, Michael Beasley didn’t just survive; he hooped through the storm, and tomorrow kept coming.
