2016 NBA Draft Prospects: Breaking Down Future of Florida State’s Malik Beasley

There wasn’t much NBA buzz surrounding Malik Beasley entering his freshman year at Florida State. Even after a productive start, it took a month or two for him to receive recognition within the 2016 draft conversation. 

It eventually became clear that Beasley’s numbers weren’t fluky, and that his physical tools and game seem like a solid NBA fit. 

He now appears locked into June 23’s first round. With strong workouts and interviews, Beasley could potentially generate interest from teams selecting in the late-lottery range. 

Relevant Stats  

While Beasley’s 20.9 points per 40 minutes were strong, it’s his 47.1 percent field-goal clip and 58.3 percent true shooting percentage that are most encouraging. His 1.6 threes per game, 38.7 percent three-point clip and 81.3 percent mark from the line also bode well for his potential as a shooter. 

Even his 7.1 rebounds per 40 minutes was a top-notch mark for a guard. He isn’t a playmaker, which you could tell from his 51 assists and 59 turnovers, but nothing from the stats should trigger any alarms. 

Strengths

A terrific athlete, Beasley may be the most explosive 2-guard in the first-round discussion. He’s an easy-bucket machine in transition, where he can fly down the floor and ultimately soar above the rim. His bounce translates to dunks off fast breaks and any action toward the basket (slashes, drives, cuts).

In the half court, Beasley threatens the defense off the ball with an accurate three-point stroke. He shows rhythm in catch-and-shoot situations. Of his 55 made threes (in 34 games), 51 were assisted, per Hoop-Math.com. Beasley ultimately looked like a convincing shooter during his one-and-done season at Florida State.

He also looked fairly advanced scoring with the runner or floater. We’ve seen sharp footwork and soft touch, and though he still needs work, he’s capable of …

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