The Milwaukee Bucks are out of the NBA Playoffs following their 4-2 loss in the opening round to the Indiana Pacers. The end of the series, of course, marked the the start of some controversy involving Bucks point guard Patrick Beverley, who was acquired at the trade deadline this year. Beverley and a Pacers fan got into a verbal altercation that ended with the point guard throwing a basketball in a violent manner at the fan.

After an investigation, the NBA decided that Beverley will be suspended for four games next season. Whether he is playing for the Bucks or not is yet to be determined.

In the meantime, though, Beverley is continuing to record and release his popular podcast “The Pat Bev Pod.” It has been through this podcast that he has been able to express his regret for what happened in Indianapolis and that he would like to return to Milwaukee next season (if he can get a raise).

Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard Patrick Beverley Names His Top Five Players Who Pushed the Sport

Mar 14, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley (21) shoots during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
In the most recent episode of “The Pat Bev Pod,” Beverley and his cohost, Rone, named their top five basketball players who pushed the sport to levels it had not reached before.

Beverley’s top three, or at least the first three that he mentioned, were Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James. He said that Magic made passing and opening up plays for teammates look cool, basically inspiring more and more people to want to be point guards. Jordan, of course, is one of the best players in NBA history, if not the best, and changed the league forever with his successful career.

Beverley had a hard time with his third player, as he waivered between LeBron and Steph Curry. The latter, of course, has made three-point shooting into a bigger part of the game than it ever was before. However, Beverley ended up choosing LeBron because of how he revolutionized being a businessman and a basketball player at the same time.

The reason why Beverley would not just name Steph as the fourth player on his list is because he reserved the last two spots for two female basketball players.

Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard Patrick Beverley Names Caitlin Clark as One of the Five Most Influential Basketball Players

May 18, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket in the first quarter against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
When Rone asked why he would not just give Steph the fourth spot, Beverley said, because I’m stopping it there. He then went on to say:

“Caitlin Clark is one of those basketball players. We didn’t say man or woman. What Caitlin Clark has done for female basketball, she’s pushed the envelope. They flying charter already.

“They’re making it known, like, ‘We got this stardom coming in.’ You gotta take care of the WNBA.”

He then named WNBA legend Candace Parker as his fifth player because she was the first WNBA superstar who was known outside of the league’s fanbase.

One has to admit, Beverley has a point about Clark. Even though she has just played a handful of games for the Indiana Fever, league ticket sales are up as are viewership numbers.

The Iowa product made interest in this year’s March Madness tournament more about the women’s bracket than the men’s, it could be argued.

While there are many who may disagree with him, there is no denying that what Clark is doing right now for the WNBA is historic and will hopefully lead to the growth of that league.

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