Patrick Beverley opted to put decency on the back burner during and after the Milwaukee Bucks' Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Playoffs on Thursday night. After hitting multiple fans with a basketball in a concerning fit of rage, the polarizing guard behaved irrationally and disrespectfully in the postgame media scrum.
He is now suffering the consequences for that specific action. Because Beverley attempted to have ESPN producer Malinda Adams removed from the area for not subscribing to his podcast, the company is banning him from future appearances on the network, per Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
The Worldwide Leader in Sports is wasting little time in showing complete loyalty to one of its longtime and respected producers. Before he asked Adams to exit the circle comprised of media members, Beverley pushed her microphone away. Apparently, the 35-year-old is only interested to speaking to people who can boost his bottom line and help increase his audience.
Other reporters have confirmed that Beverley has employed this tactic since being dealt to the Bucks at the trade deadline. Ironically, ESPN has afforded him plenty of exposure over the years, so one would think he would be extra generous to its employees.
Patrick Beverley and the Bucks both reached out to apologize, according to Adams, but the damage might be done. ESPN brass is clearly taking this indiscretion seriously. He will no longer be making guest appearances on studio shows like “First Take” and “Get Up.” While ESPN handles this issue, there are surely more consequences coming Beverley's way for his other antics.
This might only be the beginning for Patrick Beverley
The veteran threw a ball into the crowd behind Milwaukee's bench two times, first inadvertently hitting a woman in the face and then chucking it at his intended target. Beverley says the Pacers fan was yelling at him and the Bucks throughout the contest. Sources told The Athletic that obscenities were also directed at the player before the incident occurred.
The breaking point reportedly came as Milwaukee broke from a team huddle, when the individual taunted Beverley and company by saying “Cancun…Cancun on three.” While it is unknown what other words were said between both parties, a suspension seems inevitable.
The NBA is looking into the exchange and will make a ruling at some point, but being involved in such a heated exchange with fans is going to draw some form of discipline from commissioner Adam Silver. The league takes those matters seriously and will want to remove itself from this negative optics tornado as quickly as possible.
Moreover, top-level executives are not going to stick their necks out for Patrick Beverley. He is not a star talent nor is he everybody's favorite guy, hence the NBA could realistically be compelled to make an example out of him.
Beverley will presumably address all of these issues on his podcast next week. Though, it might be wise for him to refrain from sneaking a peek at his subscriber count.
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