Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on top of the basketball world at the moment. Gilgeous-Alexander just won MVP and led the Thunder to the NBA title, but former NBA player Jordan Crawford stated on the TFU Podcast that Michael Beasley is a bigger name than him in basketball.
“I told Beasley this,” Crawford said. “Who name bigger? I’m asking y’all right now on the spot. Who name is bigger in basketball? Shai Gilgeous or Michael Beasley?”
When one of the podcast co-hosts stated it was Beasley without a doubt, Crawford agreed. This is an interesting take. Of course, if you compare their NBA careers, this seems somewhat foolish.
Beasley played 11 seasons in the NBA and averaged 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. His biggest accomplishment in the league after being selected with the second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft was making the All-Rookie First Team in 2009.
As for Gilgeous-Alexander, he has career averages of 24.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. To go with the NBA title and MVP, he has also won a Finals MVP and scoring title. He is unquestionably one of the very best players in the world today.
So why would Crawford believe Beasley is a bigger name? Well, he might be off the mark here, but Beasley is regarded by many as one of the most talented players we have seen. He was somewhat of a high school phenom and impressed in his only season at Kansas. He won Big 12 Player of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American in 2008.
Beasley could have potentially had a good to great NBA career, but there were questions about his professionalism. Sprinkle in off-the-court issues with that lack of professionalism, and you get a case like his.
While many players who fall into this category tend to fade away, Beasley hasn’t. He still remains a popular figure in the basketball world, and he once boldly stated, “I’m your favorite player’s favorite player.”
Beasley is indeed held in very high regard in some corners. Former NBA player Brandon Jennings went as far as to call him one of the top five scorers in league history. As for the reasoning behind the selection, Jennings claimed that no one could guard him.
While Beasley, who most recently played for the Miami 305 in the BIG3, was indeed difficult to guard, he didn’t do nearly enough to even have his name in these conversations. Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, is slowly making a case for himself. While he has a long way to go, he has at least taken a few steps by averaging over 30 points in each of the last three seasons.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s popularity is only going to rise in the coming years. The Thunder have a good shot at repeating as champions, and perhaps the likes of Crawford would change their mind if they win again. Even if he doesn’t, Gilgeous-Alexander is unlikely to lose much sleep over it.
