Michael Beasley: “It’s Disappointing to Find Out I’m a Midget”
Photo. Chad GriffithMichael Beasley worked out for the Bulls today and talked to reporters about the team, the Bulls’ new coach and his offseason workouts.
Some highlights from a post on the Chicago Sun-Times:
On Vinny Del Negro: “Everybody’s been cool,” Beasley said. “[Del Negro] was real laid back, he had a couple jokes.”
On being officially measured at 6-7 1/2 instead of the 6-10 he was listed at while at K-State: “It’s disappointing to find out I’m a midget,” he said. “No matter if I’m five feet or 8-1, I’m the same player. I didn’t know there was a height requirement for the NBA. I’m going to work as hard as I can.”
And finally on the fact that he’s put on 20 pounds of muscle since the end of his college season: “That was just a crazy strength coach that was going to push you in the weight room each day,’’ he said. “I want to [add more weight] but not too much. Not too early on. I’m going to get stronger playing in the NBA but I’m not worried about it.’’
June 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
doc says:
Yeah that shit dont mean nothing.I’ve seen short stars and tall bums.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
D'Antonio says:
Well, it kind of matters when you play Power Forward
June 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
doc says:
It dont.If you’re the shit then you will be the shit at all times.Barkley wasnt even six seven.You see he aint drop because of it.Its bullshit.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
kobeef says:
Jerry Reinsdorf (I think) once said “necks are a waste of height” when asked about how 6′8 Elton Brand could play PF in the NBA.
I think this is probably the best way I have ever heard someone say that you need to look at more than just height when you look at a player. Wingspan is also very important for defense, rebounding and shooting. As an example Brand has about a 7′ 2 wingspan even tho he is 6′8 so his reach is actually more like a guy who is 6′10.
Beasley is similar. He “plays big” because he can jump out of the gym, has about the same wingspan as Al Horford and has huge hands. Beasley will overpower most SF’s and could hang with most PF’s.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
D'Antonio says:
Kobeef has a point.
But size, or lack therof, hurts on the defensive end: how does Beasley defend on TD, Garnett, Bosh, or any of the (many) tall PF ?
Don’t get me wrong, Beasley is a stud, but coaches will have to adapt their team if they want to play him at PF.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
AY says:
height isn’t going to help if you’re a puss; look at kg, he’s 7 feet. he might have a problem against tim duncan, but who doesn’t?
June 17th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
chaos rob says:
well hopefully he doesn’t put on too much muscle and kill his joints. 20 pounds of muscle is a lot of weight
June 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Zach says:
@ D’antonio
Jason Maxiell is shorter than that (I think 6′7 in shoes)and I think most people would agree that he can guard just about anybody and he doesn’t even have the B E-zy wingspan or athleticism. If he doesn’t go #1 the Bulls will regret it
June 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
dh says:
@ D’Antonio: “how does Beasley defend on TD, Garnett, Bosh, or any of the (many) tall PF ?
how does anyone defend them? they can all score 20 on anybody!
I figure beasley will play more at SF when he comes to the league.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Diego says:
@Zach: Are you telling us Maxiell does not have wild wingspan and athleticism too? (Nevertheless he is a good example.)
Beasley can do just fine. Look at guys like Adrian Dantley and Mark Aguirre (not to mention Barkley) back in the day. Those guys were shortish stocky forwards who had all sorts of low post moves, were pretty unstoppable and made buckets.
Corliss Williamson also comes to mind, but he was not quite as successful.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
AY says:
back in the day? you don’t have to go all the way back to barkley: xavior mcdaniel, larry johnson (gran-mama), rodney rogers, corliss williamson, danny fortson and my favorite, anthony mason. They were all under 6′7 (I really think LJ was 6′5), they didn’t have the crazy athletic abilities that beasley has (other than LJ), and they were all pretty damn good. If beasley has problems scoring, just learn the “Mason Pump”, which involves 25 pump fakes in the paint over a span of 2 seconds, then elbow your defender in the nuts while going up for the shot: aka unstoppable.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Diego says:
Damn, you nailed it AY!! LOL re. Mason!
June 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
D'Antonio says:
I guess you guys are right: Beasley’s problem right now is not that he can’t play defense, but that he won’t play defense… hehe
June 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
kobeef says:
@ay
the dream shake as interpreted by anthony mason….classic
June 17th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
I’m starting to like this guy and his size doesn’t really matter at all. He may be 6-7 but he plays at least 6-10. Although I have to ask if the Heat draft beasley and keep Marion and Haslem can they cheat Haslem at about 6-8/6-9 to center ot does he move to the bench?
June 18th, 2008 at 12:50 am
the real marcus says:
damn that mason pump is hilarious…
yeah, it doesn’t matter if the duncan’s and the kg’s give you their business… give em back yours… punish them back…
June 18th, 2008 at 7:57 am
mcmango says:
damn, i read about that mason pump at work and couldn´t hold myself from loughing out loud… damn you…
June 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Rico says:
If height matters white did Spud Web play SF?
June 18th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
BermudaBall says:
@ AY re: Mason, Lord have mercy, please, keep em comin bro! Lmao…
June 19th, 2008 at 1:20 am
NW says:
ALLEN IVERSON The end
June 19th, 2008 at 1:21 am
NNWx says:
AAllen Iverson proves it all
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Aram says:
“kobeef says:
Jerry Reinsdorf (I think) once said “necks are a waste of height” when asked about how 6′8 Elton Brand could play PF in the NBA.
I think this is probably the best way I have ever heard someone say that you need to look at more than just height when you look at a player. Wingspan is also very important for defense, rebounding and shooting. As an example Brand has about a 7′ 2 wingspan even tho he is 6′8 so his reach is actually more like a guy who is 6′10.”
I think you meant by Jerry Krause. And you are totally right about how having a really long neck doesn’t really help you play basketball. Brand may only be 6,8″ but that’s because he has virtually neck and a short head and thanks to his ridiculously long armspan of 7,4″ his standing reach is more than 9 feet.