Patrick Beverley Sounds Off On LeBron, Time With Los Angeles Lakers
The Chicago Bulls are an impressive 8-4 since Patrick Beverley’s signing after the All-Star break and have crept back into the playoff picture. Once holding a less than 15% chance of making the postseason, that has since skyrocketed to over 60% and has risen after each of their last three upset victories. First, defeating the Denver Nuggets on the road, then the Miami Heat at home, and most recently, the Philadelphia 76ers on the road. Taking down the two leading MVP candidates is something that no one could have guessed from a Bulls team that has yet to break the .500 mark this season.
Feeling Scapegoated
On the latest Pat Bev Pod episode hosted by Patrick Beverley, he had some candid comments about the team he represented before Chicago. He started by mocking the outsiders who eluded to the idea that he may have been the root of Los Angeles’s struggles this season, laughing at the notion.
“but They said in L.A. maybe it was me [audible laughter],” Beverley continued in response to the Bulls’ 8-4 record since his arrival, “This ain’t crazy, this is exactly how it should be. I’ve never missed a workout, never been late to a weight session, I never prioritize anything but basketball first, this is what’s supposed to happen.”
Patrick Beverley via The Pat Bev Pod
The frustration from Beverley didn’t stop with just feeling the misdirected blame for the Lakers’ struggles, but extended even further to one of the game’s greatest players ever to play, LeBron James. It seems that James was the cause of many hierarchical issues, whether he was on the court or not, and it was causing a negative rippling effect down the line. From one of the game’s best perimeter defenders over the past decade, Beverley felt slighted and unheard despite his expertise.
Welcomed Home With Open Arms
Frankly, Bulls fans would have welcomed any addition, considering they were once seven games below .500, 12th in the Eastern Conference, and sliding closer to destruction this offseason. Following a mightily frustrating silent trade deadline from Chicago’s front office, Patrick Beverley was the lone signing in the buyout market. Being Chicago bred and a point guard, he instantly reignited one of the most passionate fanbases in sports and took off running with that momentum. They’ve lit the league on fire since his arrival.
While Patrick Beverley is not the lone driver of the Bulls’ success since the All-Star break, one has to believe that his passion has rubbed off on the once-deadbeat Chicago roster. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are thriving in their more off-ball roles, having the best months of their respective seasons. Nikola Vucevic has won matchups against each of the two leading MVP candidates in Jokic and Embiid, and the defense has become the most potent in the entire NBA. Beverley continually raves about the environment, roster, and staff his hometown team boasts.
While he may not be the most talented point guard, it’s refreshing to see a new face who truly only wants to win, who sacrifices his accolades for the team, and whose confidence raises the expectation and play of those around him. If anyone wasn’t sold on the 11-year veteran before now, it’s time to jump on board and get behind a player with true Chicago grit and appreciation for the city he represents.