“If check rock, one-on-one, go get a bucket, I’m taking him over KD.” Josh Hart’s take left fans stunned. The obvious question is how someone could possibly pick a player with no All-Star appearance ever over Kevin Durant in a one-on-one matchup. There is no denying that KD is a walking bucket. A near seven-footer with the finesse of a shooting guard and the resume of a legend. With his insane wingspan and buttery jump shot, trying to stop him is like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.
But Hart didn’t hesitate to throw a curveball. He wasn’t talking about a reigning MVP or a Finals superstar. He was talking about Michael Beasley. Yes, that Michael Beasley—the former Kansas State Wildcats star who’s known more for his unreal potential than any major NBA accolades. In the NBA, Beasley’s greatest recognition came from landing on the 2009 NBA All-Rookie First Team—though that achievement would be just the tip of the iceberg in a career that could have been much more.
Yes, outside of the US, he did make his mark in the Chinese Basketball Association with a championship and a foreign MVP to his name. But stack that against Durant’s Olympic golds, multiple scoring titles, and MVP hardware, and the comparison might sound like a joke. But let’s pump the brakes—because Lou Williams isn’t laughing.
“Kevin Durant has gone on record in saying how special Mike Beasley is as a player and specifically what he’s able to do in a one-on-one matchup with anybody,” Lou said on Run it Back. And here’s where things get interesting. Williams didn’t argue about KD’s greatness—he knows Durant’s a future Hall of Famer. But when the conversation shifts to one-on-one, stripped-down, no-team-ball distractions? That’s where Beasley enters the chat in a big way.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 21: Michael Beasley #8 of the New York Knicks leaves the game with four fouls during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
“When you talk about one-on-one basketball, this goes back to their DMV days. Even Kevin Durant, he’s not going to say that anybody can beat him at basketball. But if there’s somebody that can compete with him, he’s going to go with one of his favorite friends in the world, and that’s going to be Mike Beasley… From a one-on-one street basketball standpoint… A lot of people are taking him one-on-one against a lot of guys… Kevin Durant included,” Williams explained.
And let’s not forget—Durant himself once gave Beasley one of the boldest props imaginable. “I was feeling him, because he is [as skilled as him and LeBron],” KD said. However, when it comes to 1-on-1, Kevin Durant’s pick might shut down assumptions that have been made about him and Beasley.
The time when Kevin Durant revealed his winner for a 1-on-1 NBA All-Star contest
Ever so often, the idea of spicing up All-Star Weekend with a 1-on-1 showdown makes its way back into the spotlight. It’s a concept fans love to imagine—what if the league’s best went head-to-head, stripped of team dynamics, relying solely on their individual brilliance?
Speaking to the media back in February, Kevin Durant weighed in on the conversation. When asked about the potential of a 1-on-1 tournament being added to the All-Star festivities, the 2x NBA champ didn’t shy away from showing support. “A cool addition to All-Star Weekend,” he called it. And really, who wouldn’t want to see that kind of drama unfold? Of course, when asked who’d take home the crown, KD flashed a grin and gave the most KD answer possible:
“Of course, I would have to go with myself.” And why not? When asked about the toughest challenge he could face, Durant gave it some real thought before name-dropping players like Jayson Tatum and the towering Victor Wembanyama. Standing at 7-foot-3, Wemby would no doubt be a puzzle in a one-on-one setup.
However, KD picking his own name first shows the confidence he has in his skillset when it comes to 1 v 1. Furthermore, it’s not just the accolades but stats too that support KD’s case better. In their 21 matchups, KD emerged victorious 18 times while Michael Beasley won just 3 games. So the chances of Beasely coming on top of KD in a 1-on-1 are thin. Especially with his confidence in his skill set against All-Star athletes, let alone Beasley, who had no All-Star selection to his name, whatsoever.
Strip away the team dynamics, the playbooks, and the spotlight, and you’re left with the purest form of basketball: one-on-one. In this arena, Beasley’s improvisational genius and fearless approach shine. Lou Williams’ assertion isn’t just a hot take; it’s a call to recognize the diverse forms of excellence that exist within the sport.
The post Not Kevin Durant, Former Kansas State Star Could Dominate 1vs1, Claims Lou Williams appeared first on EssentiallySports.