Michael Beasley has been suspended five games by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy, Shams Charania of The Athleticreports.
Since Beasley is currently a free agent, the suspension awaits him if and when he signs with an NBA team. Beasley was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers with Ivica Zubac by the Lakers for Mike Muscala on February 7. Two days later, the Clippers released him. Later that month, Beasley signed with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Guangdong Southern Tigers.
In the midst of the whirlwind moves going on in his professional basketball career, Beasley was still dealing with the death of his mother Fatima in December following her battle with cancer which caused him to miss much of the first half of the 2018-19 season.
During his time in Guangdong, Beasley posted a concerning Instagram post describing his struggles with coming to terms with her passing.
His suspension may need to wait another year because, according to The Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, Beasley is leaning towards accepting a deal to play in China this upcoming season.
According to Shams, Beasley failed his drug test in the fall, when his mom was dying and he had taken leave from the Lakers.
