Michael Beasley, the former number two overall pick of the Miami Heat in 2008, defines the term enigmatic as far a basketball player can be. His talent is undeniable, his application to the game though has often been found wanting. Coming out of Kansas State, the dynamic forward was highly touted as a potential All Star level player. His career path hasn't followed it's projected trend though.He started brightly, averaging 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds a game in Miami, earning first team all-rookie honours in 2009. But, after a couple more productive seasons with the Heat, his career began to trend downwards.A variety of off the court issues, largely involving marijuana, have stunted his progression as a player.To date he's played on six NBA teams, including three separate stints with the Heat, and has enjoyed two spells in China where he is a two-time CBA All Star. 

His story is one of unfulfilled talent, and that talent was enormous according to reigning finals MVP Kevin Durant, who grew up with Beasley in Maryland. The pair hooped together and spent time with each other on an almost daily basis from the time they were 11-years-old. 

“He is talented but there’s a certain thing that separates the talented from the way they play,” Durant told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.. “And I think that’s something when Mike was playing around a lot when he was in the kid, I was in the gym. Know what I’m saying? The talent probably is the same but that’s something that’s different. Y’all can figure that out on yourself.”

Durant knew when to focus, shut out the negative influences, and dedicate himself to the game. He's now one of the best players in the NBA, arguably THE best depending on who you ask. He's won a title, an MVP award, a finals MVP, four scoring titles, made nine All Star games and earned seven All NBA selections, to name but a few of the extensive list of his achievements. 

To put Beasley's level of talent alongside his own is a huge statement, but it's a statement that Beasley himself echo's. "As far as talent-wise, I match up with Kevin [Durant], LeBron, I match up with the best guys in the world,” he said back in October.

Beasley's lack of a solid support system, and being rushed into stardom, are two of the major factors behind some of his troubles off the court, according to the man himself:

“As soon as I got a dollar, everything I ever dreamed of, is like, 'let’s go do it, right now,'” Beasley said. 

“You don’t make the right decisions all the time but you penalize me for making the wrong ones or going with the wrong ones that people made. We all need to grow up and just because I play basketball and I was good. You all forced me to grow up a little faster than most.”

If Beasley had followed a similar path to his childhood friend, who knows where his prodigious talent could've taken him. He may even own a similarly impressive resume to Durant.

The reality though, is that Durant is busy priming for another championship run with the Warriors as a firmly established top three player in the NBA. Beasley, meanwhile, is having to grind away as a role player for the lowly Knicks just to earn himself a contract for next season. 

Talent is one thing, applying that in a manner that delivers success is another. Durant nailed the task, Beasley has seemingly never learned how.