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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 24, 2009

NBA: Heat's Beasley checks into rehab facility, AP source says


TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI — Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat is being treated for depression-related issues at a Houston rehabilitation facility, a person briefed on the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.

Beasley checked into the facility last week, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns. It's unknown how long Beasley will remain at the facility, or whether he will be available when the Heat open training camp on Sept. 28.

A photo of the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NBA draft was posted Friday to his Twitter account, in which Beasley displays a new tattoo across his shoulders. The image also captures what appeared to be a small plastic bag on an adjacent table, the contents of which were unclear.

It's unknown if Beasley was already in rehab when the photograph — and several comments, including "Feelin like it's not worth livin!!!!!!! I'm done" and "I feel like the whole world is against me I can't win for losin" — were posted on the feed.

Beasley's account has since been closed, as was another he used earlier this year.

Yahoo! Sports first reported Beasley entered a rehab facility.

Beasley finished his rookie season as Miami's second-leading scorer behind Dwyane Wade, averaging 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. He spent much of the year as a reserve, and both Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley talked often this summer about utilizing Beasley more this coming season at small forward and power forward.

At times, though, Beasley's immaturity was a concern for teammates, although he typically laughed off such criticism, saying he was young and was going to act accordingly.

Beasley was fined $50,000 last September after security officers at the NBA's rookie symposium detected the scent of marijuana in a hotel room occupied by Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur and two women. Chalmers and Arthur were fined $20,000; Beasley drew the stiffer fine for trying to hide his presence from NBA officials.

Beasley told The AP in January that there were times during his first six months as a professional that he felt "everyone was against me" and that many things "get blown out of proportion" — referring specifically to the rookie symposium incident.