Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverly had a tumultuous night as his team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs in Game 6 by the Indiana Pacers. During a heated altercation near the Bucks’ bench, Beverly threw a ball twice at Pacers fans. He also refused to be interviewed by a female ESPN employee because she wasn’t subscribed to his podcast, though he later apologized to her.
As Bucks coach Doc Rivers benched the starters towards the end of the game, Beverly got into an intense interaction with a male fan behind the bench. He was caught on camera throwing the ball towards the fan, hitting a woman next to him in the head. Beverly then threw the ball back in their direction a second time, leading NBA on TNT’s Charles Barkley to call for Beverly to be suspended for his actions.
In the post-game locker room, Beverly, who had a disappointing 3-for-11 shooting performance for 6 points, refused to be interviewed by ESPN producer Malinda Adams, insisting she couldn’t do so because she didn’t subscribe to his podcast. Despite his demand, other reporters continued to ask him questions and interview him. Adams later revealed that Beverly called her to apologize for his behavior.
Beverly’s actions drew criticism from Barkley and other analysts, who viewed his behavior as inappropriate and deserving of a suspension. His conduct towards the female ESPN employee was seen as unprofessional and disrespectful, prompting him to reach out and apologize. Beverly’s behavior overshadowed his performance on the court, where the Bucks suffered a 120-98 loss to the Pacers, ending their playoff run.
The incident involving Beverly throwing the ball at fans added to the tension of an already intense game and highlighted his emotional response to the team’s loss. While skirmishes between players and fans are not uncommon in the NBA, Beverly’s actions were seen as crossing a line and warranting disciplinary action. Despite his on-court intensity and competitiveness, his behavior off the court was met with criticism and calls for accountability from the league.
In the aftermath of the game, Beverly’s actions became a talking point among fans and analysts, with many questioning his judgment and behavior in the heat of the moment. While he apologized to the ESPN producer for his comments, the incident raised concerns about his professionalism and sportsmanship. As the Bucks reflect on their playoff exit, Beverly’s actions will be a key topic of discussion, with the league expected to review the incident and potentially hand down sanctions for his behavior.
