Bucks guard Patrick Beverley was suspended for four games without pay for throwing a basketball multiple times at fans and for an “inappropriate interaction” with ESPN producer Malinda Adams after Milwaukee's loss to Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their first round series. last week, the NBA announced Thursday.
Indianapolis police announced Wednesday that they would open an investigation into the altercation between “an NBA player and a citizen” after Beverley threw a ball several times in the fourth quarter of what ultimately became a 120 loss. -98 against the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse a week ago.
Cameras showed Beverley throwing a ball into the stands, where it hit a fan in the head. After asking for the ball and having it returned to him, he returned it to the fan.
Police said in a news release that the case has been referred to detectives “who are currently investigating this situation and take all allegations seriously,” and that the case will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office once for the investigation to be completed.
On an episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast” released Wednesday, Beverley said he was called a word he had never been called before, but added that his own actions were “still inexcusable.”
“I'll be better,” he said. “I have to be better, and I will be better. That should never have happened. Regardless of what was said, that should never have happened. It's that simple.”
Beverley, who was on a minimum contract this season with the Philadelphia 76ers and then the Bucks, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He would lose approximately $90,000 as a result of the suspension if he re-signs a minimum contract next season, which is projected to be $3.3 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
After the game, Beverley wouldn't let Adams ask her a question in a group interview in the locker room. She said it was because she didn't subscribe to her podcast. Beverly told him to get the microphone out of her face and finally asked him to leave the interview circle.
On his podcast Wednesday, Beverly said he's asked that of journalists who've interviewed him since he launched his podcast. Beverley said she told Adams that “I never meant to disrespect you.”
Tim Frank, NBA senior vice president of league operations communications, said in a statement that “Patrick Beverley's behavior toward ESPN producer Malinda Adams was unacceptable, unprofessional and did not meet the standard that NBA players NBA consistently delivers in their interactions with the media.”
This is not the first time Beverly, who just completed his 12th NBA season, has been suspended at the end of a season. In 2021, he received a one-game suspension while playing for the LA Clippers after shoving Chris Paul in the back as both players walked to their respective benches late in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns in Game 6. of the Western Conference finals.
As a result, he served that suspension in the first game of the 2021-22 season.
Beverly, who will turn 36 in July, averaged 8.2 points and 5.5 assists in the six games against Indiana in the playoffs, starting all of them.
