Patrick Beverley suspended 4 games for throwing ball at Pacers fans, inappropriate interaction with reporter

The NBA suspended Bucks guard Patrick Beverley four games without pay for throwing a basketball multiple times at Pacers fans in the final minutes of Milwaukee’s Game 6 elimination loss to Indiana and a subsequent “inappropriate interaction” with a reporter during media availability, the league announced Thursday.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the ball-throwing incident, which occurred with roughly two and a half minutes to play. Down 20, Beverley threw a basketball from the team’s bench at a fan sitting behind him. He appeared to miss his target, a male Pacers fan, instead hitting a female Pacers fan in the side of the head before asking for the ball back.

The man collected the ball and tossed it back to Beverley, who immediately over-the-head, double-hand chucked it back at the fan. The fan deflected the ball as Bucks staff and security stepped in, but the fan and Beverley continued to exchange words.

A case report was filed that night after an officer observed the interaction, and detectives are looking into the incident, a police spokesperson previously said. They are working with Gainbridge Fieldhouse to review video footage and plan to speak with those involved. The result of the investigation will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, which will decide whether to bring charges.

According to one source who witnessed the incident and two others who were briefed on it, the exchange between Beverley and one of the fans behind the bench escalated when the Bucks were breaking a huddle and the fan yelled, “Cancun … Cancun on 3.”

Those sources indicated that obscenities were said toward Beverley in the lead-up to the escalation.

When asked about the exchange after the game, Beverley said: “Nah, don’t worry about that. Nothing.”

Patrick Beverley threw the ball at a fan at the end of Game 6.

🎥 @StephNoh pic.twitter.com/6rIKEDbIJu

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 3, 2024

He also addressed the exchange in a post on his X account, commenting on a video of the incident with the caption: “Altercation between Pat Bev and Pacers fans behind the bench.”

“Not Fair at all,” Beverley wrote. “Exchanged between a fan and our ball club all night. We warned and asked for help all night. Not fair.”

In a separate post, Beverley wrote on X, “But I have to be better. And I will.”

But I have to be better. And I will 🙏🏾❤️

— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) May 3, 2024

The incident with fans preceded an exchange later on May 2 involving Beverley that drew widespread criticism. Beverley told ESPN producer Malinda Adams during a postgame media scrum that she couldn’t ask him a question because she didn’t subscribe to his podcast. Adams said on social media on May 3 that Beverley called her and apologized for the exchange.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he had a conversation with Beverley about his actions.

“I did (speak with Beverley) right away because that’s not the Milwaukee way or the Bucks way,” Rivers said. “We’re better than that. Pat feels awful about that. He also understands emotionally — this is an emotional game and things happen — unfortunately, you’re judged immediately and he let the emotions get the better of him.”

Rivers said he discussed the ball-throwing incident with Beverley.

“He made the comment to me about what was being said back his way and I just said, ‘I get it, but we’re coaches and athletes, we’re the entertainers or whatever we are. Sometimes (fans) can be in the wrong, but you just can’t do those certain things.’ And he knows that as well,” Rivers said.

Beverley scored six points in Game 6, adding five assists and two rebounds. He averaged 8.6 points in the playoffs, peaking at 13 points.

The guard joined the Bucks in February via a trade that sent the Philadelphia 76ers a second-round pick and Cameron Payne. Beverley averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game through 26 contests with Milwaukee in the regular season.

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(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)