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[Saba Sports News] NBA journeyman Michael Beasley earned his bragging rights after defeating former teammate Lance Stephenson in a much-hyped 1-on-1 matchup — and he didn’t hesitate to use them.
Beasley and Stephenson squared off Friday night in the main event of the TNC 02 basketball showcase in Miami, Florida. Beasley came out on top with a convincing 31-21 win, pocketing the event’s $100,000 grand prize.
The former No. 2 overall pick jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, putting on such an impressive offensive display that guest commentator Kyrie Irving said he’d “never” want to face Beasley 1-on-1.
Things got heated during the game, with Stephenson clashing with both referees and fans. But after the final whistle, the ex-Pacers guard showed good sportsmanship, tagging Beasley in an Instagram story and writing, “Great game bro.”
Beasley responded with a message that started out heartfelt — but quickly took a wild turn.
“I love you to the moon and back… Now grab a cigarette and a towel… We made a sex tape Kim K would envy,” Beasley wrote.
Stephenson, known as “Born Ready,” was a key figure in Indiana’s playoff runs in 2013 and 2014 and has long been viewed as a player who never quite lived up to his full potential.
That narrative also applies to Beasley. After a dominant lone season at Kansas State where he averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds, he was drafted second overall by the Miami Heat in 2008 to serve as Dwyane Wade’s running mate. But Beasley struggled to translate that success to the NBA.
Over 11 seasons with seven teams, Beasley averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and never reached the 20-point-per-game mark in any season. His final NBA stint came with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018–19 — the same team and season where he briefly reunited with Stephenson.
Despite their underwhelming NBA careers, the fiery 1-on-1 matchup reminded fans of the raw talent both players once brought to the court — and gave Beasley a mic-drop moment to remember.