© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Malik Beasley says Milwaukee’s lack of shooters made him a perfect fit for the Bucks
Coming off a rough season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Malik Beasley searched for a new NBA team that would offer him the opportunity to truly showcase what he’s known for in his career: three-point shooting. He’d eventually find it in Milwaukee as he has become the Bucks’ most legitimate long-ball threat, shooting an astounding 44 percent from beyond the arc.
Did his homework
According to a report by Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Beasley did his homework regarding which teams had the most need for his shooting abilities. He found that the Bucks were a perfect fit, as they lacked consistent shooters to compliment the play style of their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“Beasley pored over the stats and game film of past Milwaukee shooters like Donte DiVincenzo, Bryn Forbes, Kyle Korver, and Grayson Allen - and knew Milwaukee was the right team for him,” Nickel wrote.
With the intense defensive attention Giannis and Damian Lillard command, having a reliable shooter like Beasley is essential to their attack, punishing opponents for loading up on their two superstars. This is especially important come playoff time when defenses tighten up, and scoring becomes more difficult.
“They all succeeded. They came in and got open shots,” Beasley said, referring to all the shooters that played with Giannis in Milwaukee and thrived.
“I wanted to be a part of that but also, win a championship.”
Knows his role and plays it to perfection
Beasley is playing for his fifth team in eight seasons. Each stop has seen him become an effective “3-and-D” guy, tasked with providing spacing and defense around star players.
But what sets Malik apart is his willingness to embrace his role on each team he plays for. In Milwaukee, Beasley knows his job is to knock down open shots when the defense clamps down on Giannis, Lillard, and Khris Middleton. And he has done that very well.
“Any team I play on is a perfect fit,” Beasley said.
“I space the court out for star players. This year, my role on defense is bigger, but offensively, I feel like I can help any team out.”
