Throughout his NBA career, Patrick Beverley has built a reputation for being a pesky, competitive, and what some would call a “dirty” player. And Beverley did little to quiet his critics near the end of and after a season-ending loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 last week.
Beverley, who recorded 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists on 3-11 shooting in the Bucks' 120-98 loss, found himself at the center of two separate controversies that night. The first came near the end of the game, when Beverley threw a basketball twice at a group of fans behind the Bucks' bench. The first time Beverley threw the ball, it hit an unsuspecting woman in the side of the head, and after the ball was returned to Beverley, he threw it again at a Pacers fan who was seated near the woman Beverley hit initially.
On the latest episode of the “Pat Bev Pod,” which is set to release tomorrow, Beverley said he should not have done it. But he also claimed the fan said more than “Cancún on 3,” which NBA insider Shams Charania reported the fan said before the incident escalated.
“Unfortunate situation that should have never happened,” Beverley said. “What I did was bad, and that should have never happened. I have to be better and I will be better. That should have never happened. Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened, simple as that.
“Let's just say it was more than “Cancún on 3. … I've been called a lot of stuff in this league, but I haven't been called that one. Still inexcusable. It doesn't matter what was said. … I'm not going to take away from the fans that were great. It was some people that took it a little bit too far.”
Beverley, while not indicating exactly what was allegedly said by the fan, claimed he could have had multiple fans kicked out of the game.
“I'm not the guy to get fans kicked out neither. The things that were said to me, I could have got four or five fans kicked out. Literally, security walked up to me, ‘You wanna get that fan thrown out?'. ‘Nah, man.' You can say anything when you're winning, that what happens when you win. You can literally say anything.
“We in layup line, I'm on the bench with the ball, fan to the right of me say something crazy. I get up to him, ‘Hey, man. You can boo me, but don't call me that.' … Everyone who stepped out of line and said something like too crazy, all of them apologized. It was just some people who just crossed the line a little bit.”
Patrick Beverley should be suspended by NBA
By framing his non-apology the way he did and by not revealing what the fan allegedly said to him, Beverley opens himself to another round of criticism. Of course, if the fan said something derogatory to Beverley, they should have been kicked out. But Beverley cannot say with a straight face that he will be better while in the same breath giving excuses for the behavior he claims he will never do again.
If he truly does not believe he should apologize, then don't. Most people have already made their minds up about who or what Beverley is, so deciding against apologizing will make little difference in how he is perceived. And it is actually more respectable for a person to not apologize because they truly don't think they did anything wrong than an insincere, excuse-filled apology.
For his part in the incident, Beverley should and will likely be hit with a multiple-game suspension by the NBA to start next season. The league said it was investigating the matter, and regardless of what was said by the fan, Beverley will likely be used as an example by the NBA to players that throwing objects at fans will be punished. The NBA has been extra careful with player-fan interactions since the infamous Malice at the Palace brawl in 2004.
Even if he does not earn a suspension, he will certainly be fined. The league already issues fines or technical fouls for throwing the ball in the stands; Victor Wembanyama was fined $25,000 for a post-game celebration in March that saw him heave the ball into the home crowd after a victory. Several years ago, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic was also hit with a technical for kicking the ball, which went into the stands.
The NBA will likely also not look too fondly on Beverley, who found himself in another controversy after the Bucks' Game 6 loss when he denied longtime ESPN producer Malinda Adams from asking him a question during a media scrum because she wasn't subscribed to his podcast. The incident landed Beverley in hot water with fans and other media members, with ESPN reportedly banning Beverley from appearing on its programs despite the network's denial of that report.
Adams said that Beverley and the Bucks organization reached out and apologized to her for the incident.
“I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support,” Adams tweeted. “I am humbled. Patrick Beverley just called me and apologized. I appreciate it and accept it. The Bucks also reached out to apologize. I've been in news for over 40 years and kindness and grace always win.”
Beverley, who will turn 36 in July, is set to become a free agent this offseason.
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