Patrick Beverley explained why he acted the way he did in his interview following the Bucks’ playoff exit a month ago.

Patrick Beverley drew the ire of plenty of fans and media members due to his antics following the Milwaukee Bucks’ season-ending 120-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers back in May 2. Beverley, who had a clear look of frustration on his face, asked veteran ESPN reporter Malinda Adams, who was situated to his right, if she was subscribed to his podcast. When Adams admitted that she wasn’t, the Bucks guard told her that she couldn’t interview him.

Adams, however, stayed beside Beverley. Perhaps the veteran media member thought that she was simply prohibited from asking questions. The Bucks guard, however, meant that she could not stay for the whole interview session. Beverley shoved the microphone she was holding away from him and asked her to “get out of the circle”.

Now, Patrick Beverley understandably brought plenty of criticism upon himself for his petty behavior at the time. Nonetheless, a month after the incident, the Bucks guard defended himself by saying that he only wanted people to subscribe to his podcast so his words wouldn’t be taken out of context.

“For my pod, I wear my pod on my sleeve. Actually, my pod is my name. It carries everywhere I go. And it’s no disrespect to anybody of color or gender. I understand, when it comes to me, the controversial players in the NBA, anything we say [or] do becomes bigger than what it really is,” Beverley said in appearance on Gil’s Arena.

“I tell them, ‘Y’all should subscribe to the pod,’ because y’all put what I say out of context.”

“Anything we say [or] do becomes bigger than what it really is… I tell them, ‘Y’all should subscribe to the pod’ because y’all put what I say out of context.” Patrick Beverley on why refused to answer a reporter’s question 🗣️ (via @GilsArenaShow)

Patrick Beverley then contended that he meant no disrespect towards Malinda Adams even though it looked like it in the heat of the Bucks’ exit from the 2024 NBA playoffs.

“I’m not trying to be disrespectful. Everyone has a brand. Everyone has a media company who they work for. Show us love. That’s it. Just show us love,” Beverley added.

Is Patrick Beverley misunderstood?

Patrick Beverley acknowledged that he is one of the most controversial players in the NBA, as he’s not afraid to stir the pot and get down and dirty. He’s not afraid of the repercussions of his words even though they have come back to bite him most of the time. Love him or hate him, he is not afraid to be himself — but it’s this unabashed genuineness that has made him such a polarizing figure.

Beverley is relentless, and his drive to succeed in everything he does makes him an admirable figure in his own right. He fought his way back into the league and he prides himself on guarding 94 feet, and he is a master instigator who acts as an enforcer and a defensive tone-setter for his team. This is why the Bucks traded for him back in February.

Alas, there are times when Beverley doesn’t go about his business in the best way possible. His demeanor during the locker room interview following the Bucks’ playoff exit to the Pacers wasn’t acceptable. Perhaps he could have explained himself better at the moment and why he wanted Malinda Adams to be subscribed to his podcast.

There are times when Patrick Beverley is misunderstood, as his actions sometimes don’t match his intentions. That interview is one of those moments. But he also has to do a better job of making himself understood; after all, it’s not at all fair to expect everyone else to know what your thought process is behind some of your actions if you don’t convey them in a manner that’s easily understandable.

Will the Bucks re-sign Pat Bev?

As mentioned above, the Bucks traded for Patrick Beverley at the 2024 deadline to reinforce the team defensively. Milwaukee was missing a tough point of attack defender following the departure of Jrue Holiday, so head coach Doc Rivers, who spent a few years coaching Beverley with the Los Angeles Clippers, wasted no time in bringing in a familiar face.

Beverley brought in some much-needed defensive rigidity, and it always helps to have someone who is a loud communicator on the court. Since Beverley arrived, the Bucks managed to allow nearly five fewer points per 100 possessions. The struggle for Milwaukee following the trade deadline came on the offensive end, as their offensive rating dropped by five points as well.

Given that Patrick Beverley won’t cost much more than a minimum contract, it might be in the Bucks’ best interest to bring him back. Every contending team needs an enforcer and a player who’s not afraid to do the dirty work, and Beverley has embraced that role with open arms.