Two former NBA lottery picks picked up big awards from the Chinese Basketball Association on Monday. Former Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley was named foreign MVP while former Washington Wizard Yi Jianlian was named domestic MVP.
Great season fellas, happy to be apart of something special!! #6lessings #6elieve #6easley https://t.co/oD25sVVvLq
— Michael Beasley (@easyst0) February 20, 2016
Beasley has seemingly matured overseas, breaking up fights while playing great basketball. The second pick in the 2008 draft averaged more than 30 points and 13 rebounds with the Shandong Golden Stars, helping get the club back into the playoffs. Jianlian, best known for posting up chairs in predraft workouts, was the former sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft. The 28-year-old averaged 26 points, winning his fourth straight domestic MVP award.
The duo didn’t survive in the NBA, partly due to lofty expectations, so it’s nice to see them find success elsewhere.
ESPN’s Marc Stein reports Beasley has played his way to a late-season contract in the NBA and that a “clutch of NBA teams” are interested in his services.
A clutch of NBA teams, I'm told, are tracking Michael Beasley as he nears a return from China. Last seen in the… https://t.co/CcyR1hnVnn
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2016
Beasley’s former teammate Heat teammate Dwyane Wade sounded happy with his success.
“I haven’t talked to him, but I noticed,” former Heat teammate Dwyane Wade said, per Cristian Andal of Yibada. “I want to know who he’s playing against. But he’s a talent. He’s done well in China, man. It’s not a bad thing to go somewhere and to be wanted and feel confident in your abilities. Good for him.”
So it may not be the NBA stardom either expected, but finding success after what had to be a tough time in the NBA must feel really good. Both are talented players who may very well find their way to the NBA again quite soon.