Malik Beasley Bio
Malik JonMikal Beasley is an American professional basketball player born on November 26, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia. A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, he is widely recognized for his perimeter shooting, scoring instincts, and ability to space the floor. Beasley first gained national attention as a four-star high school recruit and as a one-and-done freshman at Florida State before being selected 19th overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Across nearly a decade in the league, Beasley has suited up for six NBA franchises and developed into one of the league’s most reliable three-point threats. He most recently suited up for the Detroit Pistons during the 2024–25 season. In early 2026, he joined the Cangrejeros de Santurce of Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional, continuing his professional career abroad.
Early Life and Background
Malik JonMikal Beasley was born on November 26, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in the surrounding metro area. He grew up in a family with deep ties to athletics and the arts; his grandfather was the late actor John Beasley, known for his role as a Notre Dame football coach in the film Rudy.
Beasley attended Saint Francis School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he emerged as one of the top high school basketball players in the state. As a senior, he averaged 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks, earning Class 1A Player of the Year honors and a spot on the All-State Class A First Team in Georgia. He was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and chose Florida State over scholarship offers from UConn, UCLA, Wake Forest, and Oregon.
His upbringing in the Atlanta area and his family’s background in sports and entertainment helped shape his competitive drive. The exposure to basketball at a young age, combined with his physical maturation, prepared him for the leap to college-level competition.
Path to Basketball
Beasley’s path to the NBA began in earnest at Saint Francis School, where he starred alongside future college players like Kobi Simmons and Kaiser Gates. His senior-year performance made him one of the most sought-after shooting guards in his class and set the stage for a quick college career.
At Florida State, Beasley played one season (2015–16) and immediately delivered. He averaged 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 34 games, leading the Seminoles in scoring and helping the team reach the NIT Tournament. He was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and finished among the conference’s top shooters in both free throw and field goal percentage.
On March 21, 2016, Beasley declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. He became the first Florida State basketball player to leave school as a one-and-done prospect and was selected 19th overall by the Denver Nuggets.
Malik Beasley Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
After the 2015–16 college season, Beasley underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right leg, which kept him out of pre-draft workouts. Despite the medical concerns, Denver selected him 19th overall, and he signed his rookie contract on August 9, 2016. He played sparingly in his first season, appearing in just two of the Nuggets’ first seven games and logging under eight minutes without scoring.
His first breakthrough came on November 10, 2016, when he scored 12 points in 15 minutes off the bench against the Golden State Warriors. Beasley also spent time on assignment with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League that season as he continued to develop.
Denver Nuggets Breakthrough (2016–2020)
Beasley’s role in Denver expanded in his third year, when he averaged over 11 points across 81 games. On February 1, 2019, he produced a career-high 35 points in a win over the Houston Rockets, signaling his arrival as a legitimate scoring threat. His perimeter shooting gave the Nuggets’ second unit a much-needed offensive spark during their playoff push.
By the 2019–20 season, Beasley was a key rotation piece for a Denver team contending in the Western Conference. In February 2020, however, he was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a four-team, 12-player trade that reshaped multiple rosters.
Minnesota Timberwolves (2020–2022)
The trade to Minnesota unlocked a new level of production. In his first 14 games as a starter, Beasley averaged 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. On November 27, 2020, he signed a reported four-year, $60 million extension with the Timberwolves, cementing his role as a featured scorer.
He was suspended for 12 games in February 2021 after a guilty plea in a criminal case, finishing the season serving 78 days of a 120-day sentence. Once he returned, he quickly reclaimed his form. On March 5, 2022, he broke the Timberwolves franchise record for three-pointers in a single season, surpassing Kevin Love’s 190. Four days later, he hit 11 threes in a 132–102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 33 points and setting the NBA record for most points in a game scored exclusively from three. He added 23 points in Game 1 of the 2022 first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers (2022–2023)
On July 6, 2022, Beasley was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the blockbuster Rudy Gobert deal. He debuted for the Jazz on October 19, 2022, posting 15 points and five rebounds in a 123–102 win over his former Nuggets team. On February 9, 2023, he was moved again, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade. The Lakers declined his team option on June 29, 2023, making him a free agent.
Milwaukee Bucks (2023–2024)
Beasley signed a minimum contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 6, 2023. He scored a season-high 30 points in a 128–112 win over the Toronto Raptors on November 16 and represented the Bucks at NBA All-Star Weekend, where he lost the Three-Point Contest to teammate Damian Lillard.
Detroit Pistons (2024–2025)
On July 11, 2024, Beasley signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. He played all 82 regular-season games, averaging 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He set a Pistons franchise record for three-pointers in a season with 212, and his 36-point effort on February 9, 2025, marked a new career high. Detroit was not retained by the team following their first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beasley holds the NBA record for most points in a game scored exclusively from three-point shots, set during his 33-point, 11-three performance against the Thunder. He also owns the Timberwolves’ previous single-season three-point record (240) and the Pistons’ single-season three-point record (212), placing him among the most prolific long-range shooters of his generation.
Malik Beasley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Beasley’s grandfather, the late actor John Beasley, was a familiar face in film and television, including a memorable role in the 1993 sports classic Rudy. That family connection to performance has been a part of Malik’s life since childhood.
He married Montana Yao, and the couple welcomed a son in 2019 and a daughter on November 11, 2022. Yao filed for divorce on March 4, 2025, citing irreconcilable differences, and the two are now divorced. Beasley also had a brief, well-publicized relationship with TV personality Larsa Pippen in 2020 and 2021.
2025 Season Performance
Beasley’s 2024–25 campaign with the Detroit Pistons was one of the most productive of his career. He appeared in all 82 games, averaged 16.3 points, and broke the franchise’s single-season three-point record with 212 makes, providing veteran shooting and energy on the second unit. His late-season surge, including a career-high 36 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 9, helped fuel Detroit’s late push toward the postseason.
He finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting, behind Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics, and entered the playoffs as a key scoring option for the Pistons. Detroit faced the New York Knicks in the first round, with Beasley scoring 20 points in both Game 1 and Game 6. The Pistons’ season ended in a 113–116 Game 6 loss, after which Beasley was not retained as a free agent.
