Miami Heat (2008–2010) On June 26, 2008, Beasley was selected 2nd overall in the
2008 NBA draft by the
Miami Heat. In his
NBA Summer League debut on July 7, Beasley scored 28 points and grabbed 9 rebounds (and had 2 assists) in 23 minutes played. He was second in the league in rebound average, and tied for third in scoring average in the 2008 Summer League. He was evaluated and returned to the team a day later with chest bruising, but only participated in non-contact play. He had slightly cracked his
sternum, and resumed contact drills 2 days after that. In his first preseason game, Beasley scored 16 points against the
Detroit Pistons. He followed those performances with 21 points and 7 rebounds, 12 points and 11 rebounds, 14 points and 6 rebounds, 19 points and no rebounds, 14 points and 3 rebounds, and 19 points and 9 rebounds. On opening night of the
2008–09 regular season, Beasley scored 9 points in a loss against the
New York Knicks. He posted double-digit point totals for the next nine straight games, including a season-high 25 points in a loss to
Charlotte on November 1. After the Heat's first round exit from the 2009 playoffs, it was reported that Beasley, along with fellow rookie Mario Chalmers, had been fined multiple times throughout the season for violations of team policy. During the
2009–10 season, he was a starter for the entire season. On February 19, 2010, he led the Heat to victory over the
Memphis Grizzlies with a then career-high 30 points along with 8 rebounds. For the season, he averaged 14.8 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. In the Heat's
first-round playoff series loss to Boston, those averages declined to 10.4 and 5.8, respectively.
Minnesota Timberwolves (2010–2012) On July 12, 2010, Beasley was traded to the
Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for 2011 and 2014 second-round draft picks. Beasley was traded in order to clear
salary cap space for Miami, allowing them to sign free agents
LeBron James and
Chris Bosh, as well as re-sign
Dwyane Wade. On November 10, 2010, he led the Timberwolves to victory over the
Sacramento Kings with a career-high 42 points along with 9 rebounds. He finished the season averaging 19.2 points per game which was ranked top 20 in the league. In the 2011–12 season, Beasley sprained his foot against the
Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, 2012, which kept him out for 11 straight games. Shortly after he returned from injury, he led the Timberwolves to victory over the
Houston Rockets with 34 points. Over the 2011–12 season, he averaged 11.5 points per game.
Phoenix Suns (2012–2013) On July 20, 2012, Beasley signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the
Phoenix Suns. Around this time, he decided to train with former two-time NBA champion point guard
Norm Nixon in order to improve his game. In a November 7, 2012, game against the
Charlotte Bobcats, Beasley scored 21 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and had 7 assists to help the Suns win 117–110. On January 30, 2013, Beasley scored a season-high 27 points with 6 rebounds and 5 steals off the bench to lead the Suns to a 92–86 victory against the
Los Angeles Lakers. On September 3, 2013, Beasley was waived by the Suns. The decision came shortly after Beasley had been arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession.
Lon Babby, the Suns' president of basketball operations, said, "We worked hard to devote ourselves to Michael's success, but we have to maintain the standards to build a championship culture."
Return to Miami (2013–2014) On September 11, 2013, Beasley signed with the
Miami Heat. The Heat made it to the
NBA Finals for the fourth straight time in
2014, with Beasley making his first Finals appearance in Game 5 of their series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat lost Game 5 and the series, as the Spurs won 4–1.
Shanghai Sharks (2014–2015) On September 25, 2014, Beasley signed a non-guaranteed contract with the
Memphis Grizzlies. However, he was later waived by the Grizzlies on October 9. That same day, he signed a one-year deal with the
Shanghai Sharks of the
Chinese Basketball Association. During the 2015 CBA All-Star Game, Beasley came off the bench to score 59 points, setting a CBA record for most points in the league's All-Star Game. Despite averaging 28.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 37 games, Beasley could not lead the Sharks to the CBA playoffs as they finished 12th with a 17–21 record.
Third stint with Heat (2015) On February 26, 2015, Beasley signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat. The next day, he made his return for the Heat, scoring seven points in a 104–102 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He then signed a second 10-day contract with the Heat on March 8, and for the rest of the season on March 18. On June 28, 2015, the Heat declined to pick up their $1.3 million team option on Beasley's 2015–16 contract, making him a free agent.
Shandong Golden Stars (2015–2016) On September 30, 2015, Beasley signed with the
Shandong Golden Stars for the
2015–16 CBA season, returning to China for a second stint. He scored 48 points in the team's season opener on November 1, and bested that mark with 49 points ten days later. On January 17, 2016, he won the CBA All-Star Game MVP award for the second straight year after recording 63 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists for the South team. Shandong qualified for the 2016 playoffs, but were defeated 3–0 by the
Guangdong Southern Tigers in the first round. In 40 games for Shandong, Beasley averaged 31.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He was subsequently named
the league's Foreign MVP for the 2015–16 season.
Houston Rockets (2016) On March 4, 2016, Beasley signed with the
Houston Rockets. In his third game for the Rockets on March 11, he recorded 18 points and 8 rebounds in just under 15 minutes off the bench in a 102–98 win over the
Boston Celtics. On March 19, he recorded a season-high 30 points and 9 rebounds in a 109–97 loss to the
Atlanta Hawks. On March 31, he recorded his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 103–100 loss to the
Chicago Bulls. Beasley helped the Rockets finish the regular season as the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 41–41 record. Down 2–0 to the first-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, Beasley scored 12 points in a 97–96 Game 3 win in Houston; he gave Houston a 95–94 lead with two free throws with 41 seconds left.
Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2017) On September 22, 2016, Beasley was traded to the
Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for
Tyler Ennis. On November 12, 2016, he scored a season-high 19 points in a 106–96 win over the
Memphis Grizzlies. He missed five games in December with a foot injury. On January 10, 2017, he set a new season high with 28 points in a 109–107 win over the
San Antonio Spurs. On March 31, 2017, he returned after missing 17 games with a hyperextended left knee, scoring seven points in eight minutes in a 108–105 win over the
Detroit Pistons.
New York Knicks (2017–2018) On August 8, 2017, Beasley signed with the
New York Knicks. On November 25, 2017, he had a season-high 30 points starting in place of the injured
Kristaps Porziņģis in a 117–102 loss to the
Houston Rockets. On December 16, 2017, once again starting in place of Porziņģis, Beasley tied his season high with 30 points in a 111–96 win over the
Oklahoma City Thunder. On December 21, 2017, he scored 28 of his season-high 32 points in the second half of the Knicks' 102–93 win over the
Boston Celtics. He also had 12 rebounds against the Celtics. Beasley became the first NBA player since starts were recorded in the 1970–71 season to come off the bench and have at least 32 points and 12 rebounds while playing 25 minutes or fewer. He also became the first Knicks sub ever with a 32–12 game. On March 31, 2018, he had a 32-point effort in a 115–109 loss to the
Detroit Pistons.
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2019) On July 23, 2018, Beasley signed with the
Los Angeles Lakers. He missed much of the first half of the season to be with his sick mother. On February 7, 2019, Beasley and
Ivica Zubac were traded to the
Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for
Mike Muscala. He was waived by the Clippers two days later.
Guangdong Southern Tigers (2019) On February 20, 2019, Beasley signed with the
Guangdong Southern Tigers. On July 9, 2020, the
Brooklyn Nets announced that they had signed Beasley as substitute player for the remainder of the
2019–20 season. However, his contract was voided when he tested positive for
COVID-19.
Cangrejeros de Santurce (2021) Beasley joined the
Portland Trail Blazers for the
2021 NBA Summer League. On October 5, he signed with
Cangrejeros de Santurce of the
Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
Shanghai Sharks (2022) In October 2022, Beasley had a four-game stint with the
Shanghai Sharks in China. ==Career statistics==