August 16, 2021
There’s a bit of a disconnect with how some older generations criticize athletes today.
Some people sigh and complain that sports like basketball and football have lost their aggression, namely the likes of Jeff Van Gundy — who, at just 5-foot-9, has the gall to say that this era is witnessing the “sissification” of the NBA.
Others sneer at the supposed cockiness of young athletes like Fernando Tatis Jr., who somehow abandons the integrity of his sport by daring to celebrate his 450-foot bombs.
These criticisms, which honestly seem to come from the same demographic, are admittedly hypocritical.
At the intersection of this divide — or perhaps the sweet, sweet center — is Patrick Beverley.
Known for his Energizer bunny-like passion, defensive physicality, and a long collection of overzealous quotes, Beverley has developed quite the reputation of villainy in today’s NBA. With his trade to Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers move forward in their everlasting quest for a championship. But they’ll do so without their most tenured player.
For Clippers fans, Beverley is more than a symbol of tenacity and leadership — he’s someone who embodies the heart and soul of the franchise more than anyone ever has.
As a member of the Clippers fanbase, I nearly dropped to my knees when I saw Adrian Wojnarowski’s announcement of the trade on Sunday afternoon. Whether or not it makes sense for the Clippers’ front office to shed nearly $30 million in salary tax (it does), it’s almost heartbreaking to see Beverley put on another jersey.
While many will likely remember the Clippers point guard for shoving Chris Paul, or for claiming that he was Steph Curry’s successor to the throne, OR for being routinely mixed by James Harden, I want to take a moment to speak my piece.
Because I remember much more of what Pat Beverley brought us.
Though I know they’ll be lost in history, my favorite Clippers team to this day is the 2018–19 squad that saw us out in six in the first round to Golden State. Lauded as the “worst eight-seed in history,” those Clippers put legitimate pressure on the team who many saw as the greatest collection of basketball players ever assembled.
I recall Beverley roaring at fans in a dazed Oracle Arena moments after a playoff-record 31-point comeback. His eyes darted around frantically to find Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, or anyone else who wanted to hear it. You might remember, the game spawned Kevin Durant’s infamous “I’m Kevin Durant” rant. Though Beverley likely knew he wouldn’t lead LAC to the next round, he’d go on later in the series to collect 17 points and 14 rebounds in a Game 5 win at Oracle. Beverley’s work ethic and unparalleled tenacity for the game defined that team — and likely helped to catch the attention of Kawhi Leonard that offseason.
Alongside Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, Beverley graced the cover of Slam Magazine with the headline “ROCK L.A. FAMILIA” — mirroring a cover that featured the trio of Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, and Darius Miles in 2002.
The franchise had seen decades of suffering with no end in sight. Odom proved not to be the chosen one. Injury woes shut down the hopes of Lob City. The chaos that saw an end to Donald Sterling’s reign, though necessary, cast the Clippers in another shade of shame.
Griffin and Paul’s eventual exits marked the start of yet another rebuild, an unfortunate turn of events, but one that felt like it didn’t give off the same stench of failure as it had so many times before. Beverley’s entrance, which came in exchange for LAC’s former floor general, assured that the team wouldn’t wallow in sadness any longer.
Just like their new owner, Steven Ballmer, Beverley exuded an inexplicable confidence — determined to prove himself just like the Clippers always have.
Long before his energy invited mockery and criticism — notably Russell Westbrook’s “Pat Bev, he trick y’all” moment — Beverley was Illinois’ 2006 high school co-player of the year. His senior year stats come as a shock — 37 points and 8 steals per game — and remind the average basketball fan that NBA caliber exists on a plane lightyears above us all. For every embarrassing try-hard moment he’s had, Beverley has demonstrated his ability as a top-tier two-way guard that goes brutally under-recognized.
To name just a few: his explosive dunk on Chris Bosh in 2014, critical defense that forced a Lebron turnover to win in the final seconds on Christmas Day in 2019, dagger threes to put Utah to bed in the 2021 Western semis, and stifling defense on Devin Booker in the following series.
As both a fan and someone who’s aware of his flaws, I can assure you this — I’d much rather have him on my own team than not.
So as the Los Angeles Clippers make another move towards that ever-elusive title, I wanted to acknowledge just how critical Beverley has been to this franchise. His energy lives on in Terance Mann, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, Paul George, and more.
Championship or not, Patrick Beverley should go down as one of the most important players to put on a Clippers uniform.
