“I've been called a lot of things in this league, I hadn't been called that one” – Pat Beverley speaks on the incident between him and the Pacers fans
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The Milwaukee Bucks’ season, which started with high hopes of reclaiming the NBA championship, ended in a devastating first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. However, the Bucks’ disappointment was overshadowed by an incident involving their guard, Patrick Beverley, who found himself in a heated confrontation with several Pacers fans during Game 6.
With a little over two minutes remaining in the game, cameras caught the fiery guard throwing a ball into the stands, which hit a woman. Then, after asking for the ball back, Pat threw it again, this time with more force, hitting another fan.
The veteran guard recently went on “The Pat Bev Podcast” and gave his take on the incident, calling it an “unfortunate situation that should’ve never happened.”
Emotions ran high
Unlike other major sports in America, the lines separating NBA players and fans are thin, with players constantly being close to fans during games. This unique proximity can lead to unpredictable and sometimes volatile interactions. As the infamous “Malice at the Palace” showed, chaos can ensue if that line is crossed. In Game 6, it appears the former Arkansas standout crossed that line by chucking the ball at fans, an act he acknowledged as “bad.”
“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, simple as that,” the native of Chicago said.
An NBA experience is unique. Aside from the exciting action on the floor, there’s much to see and hear from the stands. With this being the postseason, emotions can run high, leading to intense trash talk between players and fans, something the raucous guard has engaged in before. However, there is a line that should not be crossed, and PatBev relayed that some fans definitely crossed it.
“Let’s just say it was more than ‘Cancun on three.’ I’ve been called a lot of stuff in this league. I haven’t been called that one,” Beverley reported. “Still inexcusable. It doesn’t matter what was said.”
Why he didn’t have the fans thrown out
While some NBA players turn to security to have unruly fans escorted away from the game, the Bucks guard said he doesn’t have it in him to resort to such a tactic, recognizing the hard-earned money it takes to attend NBA games.
“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 want to get that fan thrown out?’ I said, ‘Nah, man.’ You can say anything when you win, and that’s what happens,” the three-time All-Defense team member shared.
“Some people would say, ‘Pat, man, you should have gotten him kicked out; that would have never happened.’ I’m not getting no fans kicked out. People who spend money to watch us play, I’m not getting them kicked out,” he added.
Beverley clarified that some fans had gone out of line and apologized for their behavior. However, some kept egging him on. Regardless, Pat is remorseful for his actions and now awaits the punishment he’ll receive from the league. One thing’s for sure: he said he’d never bring a ball to the bench again.