It was a day of celebration in the household of Malik Beasley. The Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter, who made his way to LA during the trade deadline, was celebrating the birthday of his son. The NBA star took to Instagram and pinned down a heartfelt message for his four-year-old Makai. Unfortunately, his professional struggles came in the way of the special day. As fans bombarded the former Minnesota Timberwolves guard, he responded with an emotional plea to the fans.

Beasley was one of the Lakers’ best pickups during what was a rollercoaster of a trade deadline. The purpose of his arrival was simple, he was the shooter the Lakers needed. Injecting him into the system allows the Purple and Gold to spread the floor and stage a terror perimeter offense. The 26-year-old came in and instantly made an impact as a three-point shooter. However, he has been relatively quiet on the floor since then.

Beasley has failed to remain consistent with his shots. Over a 10-game stretch, he has shot under his average(35%) seven times. With the confidence of coach Darwin Ham to shoot without fear, fans have been upset with his recent performances. It has gotten to a point where he couldn’t celebrate his son’s birthday without getting hate. But the target wasn’t just him. Similar to Russell Westbrook, the Laker Nation turned on his family. And Malik Beasley wasn’t willing to stand for the disrespect.

Malik Beasley demands respect from the Lakers fans

This isn’t the first time the Lakers fans have come under scrutiny. After his exit, Patrick Beverley took a dig at LA fans when he said on his podcast, “I play a bad game with Chicago, I ain’t gotta look on Twitter and hear, ‘He’s a bum, get him outta here!’ Like I was hearing that s*** in L.A”. Now Los Angeles Clippers star Westbrook had to face unrelenting attacks from fans on a daily basis. It got to a point where his children and family were affected by the hate.

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As it seems, it continues to be a problem. Even on the day Beasley tried to celebrate his son’s special day, fans left comments mocking the Lakers guard. Reacting to the backlash from the fans, the 26-year-old responded by promising he will be back at his best. In addition, he also asked the fans to respect his family and not put them under the hammer.

Malik Beasley wrote on his Instagram, “It’s my son’s bday and I’m trying to enjoy that.. obviously I want to be making shots my self. I’m harder on myself then anybody.. laker nation it’s only a matter of time….Positively is the only way to move forward from here. Love y’all and just show some respect to me and my family”

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As an athlete, bad performances are bound to bring in hate. However, as fans of the game a line needs to be drawn responsibly. Going after the families of players isn’t the right approach. Despite it all, the Lakers guard handled the situation with maturity and gave his assurance to the fans.