The NBA has suspended Bucks guard Patrick Beverley four games without pay for “forcefully throwing a basketball multiple times at spectators and an inappropriate interaction with a reporter during media availability,” the league announced on Thursday (Twitter link).
Since Beverley is an impending free agent, it isn’t yet known how much he will be fined, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter). Assuming he’s able to land a new contract, Beverley will serve the suspension at the start of 2024/25.
The incidents in question came a week ago, both during and after Milwaukee’s Game 6 loss to Indiana. The defeat ended the Bucks’ season.
Late in the fourth quarter, Beverley first threw a ball that appeared to miss its mark, a male Pacers fan, instead hitting an unsuspecting female in the side of the head (Twitter video link). When the male fan retrieved the ball and lightly tossed it back to Beverley, he immediately threw it back at the male fan with considerably more force.
The Athletic subsequently reported that a fan — presumably the male fan — was directing obscenities toward Beverley leading up to the incident. Yesterday, The Athletic reported that Indianapolis police were reviewing the altercation. It’s unclear if it will lead to criminal charges.
The second incident in question came when Beverley grew agitated with ESPN producer Malinda Adams because she wasn’t subscribed to his podcast (Twitter video link). After stating she couldn’t be present at his media session for that reason, he subsequently pushed her microphone away and later asked her to leave the circle of reporters around his locker.
The 35-year-old reportedly had been telling media members they couldn’t interview him unless they were subscribed to his podcast since Milwaukee acquired him in a deadline-deal from Philadelphia.
“Patrick Beverley’s behavior towards ESPN producer Malinda Adams was unacceptable, unprofessional and failed to meet the standard that NBA players consistently meet in their interactions with the media,” said NBA spokesperson Tim Frank, per Howard Beck of The Ringer (Twitter link).
Beverley and the Bucks reached out to Adams to apologize the following day.
I’d honestly be very surprised if he ever played in the NBA again
I mean can they really fine a player that’s retired. Bev’s is the type to go ahead and retire out of spite.
More likely to retire because nobody wants him.
Can they take away a part of his pension? If he does end up retiring, I think that should be in the plans and that is from a Bucks fan that was glad to have him on the team and maybe even wants him back as a ninth, tenth, or 11th rotation guy.
I mean, did he ever “play” in the nba to begin with? All he does is talk and cry.
He’s become a meme now, but rockets Beverley was an impactful player.
He did. He was first team all defense.
@CCooper Miles Bridges says hello
Bridges isn’t old, and has more talent than pat bev. And pat could lock people down.
Yall crying don’t know jack.
But keep saying dumb stuff like the Knicks should get rid of Randle, despite him being their second best player.
That’s it? 4 games? Wow. He threw the ball at fans twice and kicked a reporter out for not following his sh—y podcast. The fans didn’t even go that hard at him.
He will be lucky if he isn’t arrested for assault.
I think it’s more likely the fans are seeking money over a criminal sentence
They won’t win a lawsuit, as a ball entering the stands is considered an acceptable risk, however the person throwing the ball is already guilty of assault and battery. It’s all on video.
Different situation. An intentional act done during a stop in play is not the same thing. If a nascar racer threw a tire at a fan would you say the same thing.
Did you just liken Pat Bevs piss missle to the side of the head to a biffed pass that winds up out of bounds and in the lap of a fan? Thats insane
NBA…
No
Beverley
Anymore
Interesting to compare/contrast the PatBev consequences versus the Murray limp-wrist slap.
Because Murray drilled a woman in the head with the heat pack?? What?
Hey boner champ, learn to compare and contrast. Will benefit you in life
Go slip on a heat pack and break your neck then report back how you’re feeling
Adam Silver is weak. I guess if the Malace at the Palace happened today everyone would have gotten a 5 game suspension.
If the fan was in the wrong he would have been banned for life from the arena. Only way to remotely make it right is to have Pat give the fans he hit the equivalent of 4 game checks.
The huge difference is that players started that interaction while the fan started this one.
The innocent woman he hit started it? Even if you want to blame the fan it was the other guy. If someone trash talks you and you punch the person in the face next to the heckler you are the wrong one.
Does shi**ing on fans constitute more than 4 games?
For all the crap that he starts and obscenities he spews out during a game, it is hilarious that he is so often shown to be extremely thin skinned. Says a lot about Pat as a person. Pompous winner and a sore loser.
Perfect fit the Hornets!
Imagine if a fan did this… they get banned for life for just saying words.. this guy gets a 4 game suspension for attacking a fan…
Bad luck on Beverley’s part. If his team had advanced, he’d only have gotten a 100K fine.
I’m over this clown.
I thought he was going to get 5 games so I guess 4 games is fair. I think Patrick Beverley still has one more season in him for the veteran minimum. I’m not sure if he’s going to resign with the Milwaukee Bucks or go somewhere else.