However slimy Game of Thrones’ Petyr Baelish seems, there’s no denying his wisdom about self preservation. “Fight every battle, always, everywhere, in your mind,” the man nicknamed Littlefinger instructs Sansa Stark in season seven. Denver Nuggets shooting guard Malik Beasley is only 21, but he seems to have internalized that advice during an uncertain offseason.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Beasley said Wednesday. “I could get traded. I could be in the second unit. Either way I’m going to be working hard. Summer League is on my mind right now. I’m going to worry about that. And when the time comes I can prove to them that I can be a backup shooting guard.”
Beasley understands there are minutes up for grabs at backup shooting guard with Will Barton likely moving into the starting lineup after the Nuggets dealt Wilson Chandler to the 76ers. He is also aware he might not be in the Nuggets’ plans at all next season, which is perhaps a healthy mindset in a league where there are only a handful of untouchable players.
Beasley is prepared for any outcome. In the meantime, the third-year guard is putting in the work to give himself the best chance to succeed.
Beasley is playing in Summer League for the second season in a row. He’ll start at shooting guard and figures to be a player the Nuggets rely heavily on along with point guard Monte Morris and power forward Tyler Lydon. Beasley has the most NBA experience of those three players. He’s been a fringe rotation piece for the Nuggets for the last two seasons. In year three, Beasley’s goal is to earn consistent minutes.
“I still didn’t play that much (last season),” said Beasley, who averaged 3.2 points and 9.4 minutes in 62 games. “I thought I needed to show what I can do. I just want to kill whoever’s in front of me, whether it’s right now or when we play (in Las Vegas).”
That mentality was on display Sunday when Beasley threw down a dunk in traffic and then screamed “that’s what the f*** I do” as he walked by the assembled media. There were flashes of impressive athleticism last season when Beasley would drive baseline and throw down a dunk or complete a chase-down block. This offseason, his goal is to become a better ball handler, an improved shooter and more dependable.
“My main thing this year is I’m going to work on three things,” he said. “My ball handling. Not picking up my dribble on pick and rolls. Become an elite shooter. And staying consistent.”
When Beasley got on the floor last season, it was because of his defense. The 6-foot-5 guard has the physical tools to be a solid on-ball defender, an area of the game Denver struggled in. Beasley doesn’t have to anything spectacular to break into the rotation in 2018-19; he just needs to be solid.
“I think Malik is an elite athlete who can guard,” Nuggets Summer League coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He can get to the rim. He can play on one or two dribbles. If he can consistently do that … And when he’s open, he’s got to shoot it. He definitely has an NBA skill, so that’s why he’s going to Summer League to prove that. He’s done it. He’s played rotation minutes for us, and we believe in him, and we’re happy with him. I think he’s approached this training camp as a pro. I only expect good things for him.”
Beasley, a one-and-done player out of Florida State, hasn’t gotten on the floor as much as he would’ve liked in his first two seasons as a pro. He’s working to make sure that changes next season. He’s controlling what he can control in a situation where uncertainty is looming.
