Drama has returned to the BIG3—and NBA veterans know it never stays quiet for long. In 2024, Ice Cube went on a run to bring in city-based teams to his league, and now, the BIG3 has expanded to eight teams. One of the additions was Miami 305 led by Michael Cooper. And before the teams could take their adrenaline to the court, the off-court drama had everyone’s attention. And as petty–or smart–as it may sound, the NBA legend Michael Beasley has made a request as Coop welcomed a new member to his team.

Last week, with the No. 1 overall pick in the drafts, Miami 305 selected Lance Stephenson. Interestingly, Beasley and Stephenson were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018-19 season when the Purple and Gold missed the playoffs. Of note, they are also going to go head-to-head in the highly anticipated June 6 matchup on the YouTube series The Next Chapter for $100,000. But as it turns out, Beasley is not exactly in a mood to step onto the hardwood alongside Lance.

Previously, Senior NBA Insider, Chris Haynes reported, “Michael Beasley — of the expansion Miami 305 team — is upset the franchise drafted Lance Stephenson with the No. 1 overall pick and is contemplating requesting a trade, sources tell me.” Now while this off-court scuffle and drama has been brewing in a rather sunny Miami, the HC has a take that we wouldn’t have expected.

Last week, Big3 shared Miami 305’s roster for the next season. In the post, the latest additions were highlighted– Lance Stephenson and Sean Williams. A couple of days ago, Duke City Talk Sports shared the same on their Instagram story with a simple caption, “Coach @showtimecooper21.” In turn, Coop too had a simple take on the announcement– A quiet flex with no drama and no hints. He re-shared the story on his account and that was it, however, it hints at some pride in his roster.

The squad now includes Mario Chalmers, Reggie Evans, and Sean Williams apart from Beasley and Stephenson. As for the drama, we don’t exactly know what Cooper thinks of the theatrics that Beasley is playing but it sure is going to be interesting whether they wear the same jersey or not as the regular season for the league begins on June 14. But like we said earlier, it might be a very smart strategy by Beasley.

You see, The Next Chapter is already a hype amongst basketball fans who want to see something outside of the traditional NBA matchups. But who says you can’t get more attention to it? Now whether Beasley’s demand is just for the show or has an actual reason, which, by the way, he hasn’t disclosed yet, it will certainly bring more eyes to the two as rivalry seems to grow. If they do stay in the same team, well, it’d be tough not to pass the ball to your teammate, like him or not, in a 3-on-3 game. Apparently, Beasley knows exactly how to keep things interesting.

But those who know the game could feel the undercurrent. With this lineup and all the backstories bundled into one team, it’s not just about hoops anymore. It’s personal. At least for Beasley.

Michael Beasley believes the world loves his game, but couldn’t care less about his mind

Michael Beasley’s story was never meant to follow a script. From day one, he was the flashy kid with insane talent, but no one ever stopped to ask what was going on behind the swagger. The world wanted his game, but nobody ever really wanted to hear his side.

In a candid reflection, Beasley shared, “Every text message is left on read. Nobody would tell me what the right thing to do.” It’s a brutal truth for a player whose talent was obvious, yet the support system never showed up when it mattered most. When he was drafted second overall in 2008, right after Derrick Rose, it felt like the league expected him to become a superstar overnight. But what people missed was the baggage he dragged with him, the kind you don’t see in highlights or interviews.

It wasn’t just about adjusting to the league; it was about surviving life. Beasley’s been fighting against labels his whole career. People called him reckless, inconsistent, a locker room risk. He once opened up, “Don’t do this, don’t do that. As soon as I do something, everybody will tell me it’s wrong, though. My whole life has been like that.” For him, it always felt like nobody would guide him, and the second he made a move, everyone told him it was wrong.

Those words carry the weight of someone who’s been left to figure life out in the public eye while critics judged every misstep. It’s a lonely, exhausting cycle when your mistakes make headlines but your pain gets overlooked. However, now he has certainly understood how to bring more eyes to himself, giving a new meaning to the phrase, ‘Any promotion is a good promotion.’