10/14/2026
Before the NBA, before China, before the BIG3, there was one season in Manhattan, Kansas that people still talk about.
Michael Beasley came to Kansas State as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2007 and MVP of the McDonald’s All American Game. Then he played like nobody had told him freshmen were supposed to wait their turn.
26.2 points a game. 12.4 rebounds, first in the country. 28 double doubles, breaking Carmelo Anthony’s freshman record of 22. A 44 point night at Baylor.
Before the Kansas game, he made a promise: “We’re going to beat Kansas at home. We’re going to beat them in Africa. Wherever we play, we’re going to beat them.”
Then he went out and did it. Kansas State’s first home win over Kansas since 1983.
The No. 2 pick in 2008. Eleven NBA seasons. CBA Foreign MVP in China. And in the BIG3: a champion, a two time MVP, and second on the league’s all time scoring list.
Some guys get buckets. Some guys are the bucket.
The bucket never stopped. 🪣
