Michael Beasley’s mom, Fatima Smith, raised five kids alone working three jobs. Learn about her sacrifices, strength, and heartbreaking final days with her son.
Fatima Smith was Michael Beasley’s mom, the woman who raised him and his four siblings entirely on her own in Maryland. She passed away on December 23, 2018, after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice that shaped one of the most gifted forwards in NBA history.
Michael Beasley’s mom was the one constant through an otherwise turbulent career. Selected second overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Beasley went on to play eleven seasons across seven franchises. Through every chapter of it, Fatima Smith was there.
Michael Beasley’s Mom, Fatima Smith’s background, and sacrifices
Fatima Smith raised five children as a single parent: Michael, Leroy (known as Diamond), Mychaela, Malik, and Tiffany. Michael has said openly that there was no father figure in their home.
To keep the family going, Smith worked three jobs simultaneously, sometimes juggling two in a single day. In candid interviews, Beasley revealed that one of those jobs was at a nightclub, a truth he only pieced together years later as an NBA player. He put it together when a familiar phrase at a Miami club triggered a childhood memory of calling his mom there and being told she was unavailable for a few minutes. He never forgot what she did to make sure her children had what they needed.
Michael Beasley’s mom also co owned and managed The Hair Spa Salon at Woodmore Town Center, a business her son helped support after making it to the NBA. He also purchased a home for her using his earnings from the league.
How Michael Beasley’s Mom Shaped His Character
Fatima Smith was not just selfless. She was firm. After Michael received a speeding ticket during his college years, she confiscated his black 2003 Chevy Tahoe for two weeks and required him to write a personal apology letter to her, a story later reported by Sports Illustrated.
The family moved from Montgomery County to Frederick, Maryland in 2005, and Michael attended six different high schools during his upbringing. Through all the instability, his mother remained the one steady force.
Fatima Smith’s Final Days and Michael’s Tribute
Fatima Smith kept her cancer diagnosis from her children for over a year, not wanting them to worry. When Beasley finally found out how serious things had become, he left the Lakers mid season, something he had never done in his entire basketball life.
She had been driving herself to chemotherapy before being placed in hospice, a detail Beasley shared on Theo Pinson’s Run Your Race podcast. He described her simply: his mom was tough.
On December 16, 2018, Beasley brought her to watch the Lakers play the Washington Wizards in Washington D.C. at her request. They sat in a suite at Capital One Arena for the first half. It was one of her final wishes fulfilled. One week later, she was gone.
Beasley posted a photo of her on Instagram captioned “Mommy” with an angel emoji. Lakers coach Luke Walton addressed it publicly before a game: his message to the Beasley family was one of love, support, and grief shared by the entire organization.
Despite personal difficulties between them, including Beasley acknowledging in interviews that his mother had taken money from him, the two reconciled fully before her death. In the end, Michael Beasley’s mom died with her son by her side.
Fatima Smith never made headlines during her life. But she made a son who understood what real sacrifice looks like because he watched it every single day growing up.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Michael Beasley’s ethnicity?
Michael Beasley is African American. He was born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and grew up in a tight-knit Black community in the DMV area.
What are Michael Beasley’s career stats?
Beasley averaged 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game across 609 NBA games, playing for seven different franchises over eleven professional seasons.
Who is Michael Beasley’s wife?
As of April 2026, Michael Beasley has not publicly confirmed a wife. He is the father of multiple children, including daughter Mikaiya and son Michael Beasley III.
What is Michael Beasley’s net worth?
Michael Beasley’s net worth is estimated at around $14 million, built through his NBA contracts, overseas stints in China, and various endorsement deals throughout his career.
How tall is Michael Beasley?
Michael Beasley stands 6 feet 9 inches tall. His size, combined with his natural scoring ability, made him one of the most versatile forwards to enter the NBA Draft in 2008.
What teams did Michael Beasley play for in the NBA?
Beasley played for the Heat, Timberwolves, Suns, Bucks, Rockets, Knicks, and Lakers across his eleven NBA seasons, also spending time in China’s CBA league between stints.
