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AP: eb209a30-1d5b-4780-866f-0cadf243e663
Phoenix Suns' Michael Beasley goes after a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn., Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013. The Suns defeated the Grizzlies 96-90. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
listen Listen: Lon Babby discusses Michael Beasley incident with Doug and Wolf
Phoenix Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby thinks the Michael Beasley traffic incident has been "completely overblown."

Late Monday afternoon it was reported that Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley had a bit of a run-in with the law.

The oft-troubled player was cited for driving with a suspended license, driving with with excessive speed, driving with expired registration and failure to display a license plate on the rear of his vehicle.

He was clocked by Scottsdale Police going 71 MPH in a 45 MPH zone.

On its own, the issue is really not that uncommon. People speed, and sometimes they get caught. However, Beasley's track record of issues off the court likely made this a bigger story than it otherwise would have been, and although Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby understands why people were so interested in the incident, he pretty much thinks the entire story "was completely overblown."

"I have a lot of confidence in Michael and the work he's doing here, and I can't condone anybody driving too fast," Babby told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf. Adding he wouldn't condone speeding from anyone in his family, Babby said he believes "the reaction to it was overblown."

"It was a traffic incident," he said. "I guess when you have a little bit of a history people are going to overreact to it."

Babby, who said he does not believe the team needs to take any further action with regards to Beasley, adding it didn't really cause him "great angst" or anything like that.

"Obviously we wish all of our guys would not get speeding tickets, but people get speeding tickets."

This is true, but it would probably be fair to say most people who get speeding tickets are never placed in handcuffs for any period of time during the stop. Beasley was.

Even with that, Babby said he believes the media overreacted to the issue and that "the notion that he was arrested connotes something far more serious than what happened."

"It was a traffic stop, they investigated the traffic stop, he was briefly detained while they did that," Babby said. "There was a question, as I understand it, about his driving privliges in Arizona even though he has a Florida license."

Babby said Beasley has an Arizona ID card -- not a license -- which is something the team makes sure all its players have.

What it comes down to is Babby feels like while Beasley made a mistake, it's simply not one that deserves as much attention as it has received.

The topic accounted for a little more than five minutes of what was roughly a 14 minute interview Wednesday.

"I think it's unfortunate we're spending so much time on it," he said. "I don't condone what he did, but I also think he is being held to a microscope. And you know he brings it on himself, I get that."

Adam Green, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

16 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    One thing is not overblown
    He is a piece of trash.
  • Abuse
    JW L. wrote...
    What is Overblown
    ..is the Sun's management's belief that they know what they are doing. Beasley was dumped by two other organizations before the brain-trust at the Suns decided they could turn him around. He has shown he is still an immature idiot not worth messing with. Suns management needs to wake up and realize they are not very good.
  • Abuse
    movingaz wrote...
    beast lee
    For Once I agree with Babby. Cut the guy some slack. He's playing well, He's not killing anyone or beating anyone up or taking Steroids or PED's and lying about it. The new coach is doing a good job and so is he, lets give him a chance.
  • Abuse
    Jim R. wrote...
    Speeding is Common BUT.....
    Driving without a license plate isn't :-)
  • Abuse
    Sillysoft wrote...
    Well
    When you make a ton of money, play pro sports and have a past everything is put under a microscope. Just lucky he didnt hit anyone at those speeds.
  • Abuse
    Erik J. wrote...
    Not a good message
    Driving 71 in a 45 zone on a suspended license is not your average "traffic incident". It is dangerous and shows poor judgement. You don't get your license suspended for ticky tack reasons, Babby's comment makes it sound like the Suns believe that it equates to having a lot of parking tickets. I'm willing to cut him a break in his job, since he's got more experience than I do, but please don't minimize public safety.
  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    Unless you are really stupid
    you can easily look up the past instances in which he has done the exact same thing before and also his past examples of "poor judgement". This is a low quality guy and a waste of breath.
  • Abuse
    RichFromAz wrote...
    Shut up
    All you so called fans that hate on the suns players and management are idiots. Maybe you guys should of went with Nash to L.A. When the suns turn things around and they will all of you dumb fans will be back on the bandwagon. If you guys don't like Beasley as a player fine but don't bash him as a person. Rome wasn't built in a day dummies. Give this new team a little bit of time under coach hunter and they'll be way better than they were with Alvin Gentry. For now just shut up if you don't have nothing positive to say.
  • Abuse
    Robert A. wrote...
    Do Something Robert
    I think Sarver gets a bad rap for being cheap, he has spent money (all be it unwisely). But, he can't be excused for hiring this mess of a front office. They have NO direction or idea how to run a successful franchise. Couple that with absolutely no Public Relation skills and you have possibly the worst condition of the team since the drug scandal.
  • Abuse
    DeeGirl wrote...
    Like Seriously ?
    So if the media is overblowing it, then the Suns are underblowing it ! Come on man !
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