Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley has long been known as one of the feistiest players in the NBA.
After the Clippers’ 111-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, he elaborated on why he has that type of attitude.
In his explanation, Beverley also indicated that he’s no fan of Lakers superstar LeBron James.
#Clippers’ Patrick Beverley on the chip on his shoulder – “I played with Miami, with LeBron and they cut me. I got drafted by the #Lakers, they traded me to Miami. Bron got there, they cut me. I remember it like it was yesterday, so yeah, it’s a chip on my shoulder.” pic.twitter.com/bcSwtF5En6
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 5, 2019
“I played with Miami, with LeBron [James] and they cut me,” said Beverley after the game. “I got drafted by the Lakers, they traded me to Miami. Bron got there, they cut me. I remember it like it was yesterday, so yeah, it’s a chip on my shoulder.”
Beverley was chosen with the 42nd pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Lakers immediately sent him to the Miami Heat for a second round pick in the 2011 draft.
He didn’t find a home in the league until he made the Houston Rockets’ roster in the 2012-13 season. In his second year there, he became a starter and began to make a positive reputation for himself.
Against the Lakers on Wednesday, he got the last laugh over James.
With 3.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers down by three points, Beverley blocked James’ three-point attempt. The ball last touched James’ fingertips before going out of bounds, preserving the win for the Clippers.
In 28 games this season, Beverley is averaging 7.9 points per game and shooting just 32.5 percent from three-point range.
However, his defense and feistiness have keyed his team, and it’s now just two games behind the No. 1-seeded Lakers in the Western Conference standings.
