Patrick Beverly Critiques Trae Young’s Game and Leadership

Patrick Beverly, who has never been an NBA All-Star and hasn’t played in the league for over a handful of seasons, is nonetheless one of basketball’s most vocal personalities. Recently, he turned his attention to Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks and questioned the intensity displayed by some NBA players during the All-Star Game. He compared their effort to what he sees in open gym sessions throughout the offseason.

Beverly took to X last week to express his thoughts, stating, “Because the All-Stars take the game for granted. They’re not one All-Star on the court. Good bump.”

This comment sparked a quick response from Young, who told Beverly to “relax” and encouraged him to allow players to express themselves. Subsequently, Beverly brought Young up again in an episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast With Rone.”

He noted, “I don’t think he won enough to talk to me like that or tweet me like that.” Beverly elaborated, “He went to the playoffs three times. I’ve been to the playoffs nine times. He has been in the NBA for seven years. My first seven years, I never missed the playoffs.” He emphasized the importance of team success, hinting at Young’s leadership qualities and how some players had issues being on the Hawks.

In response, Young used social media to address Beverly’s comments in a nearly 12-minute video. He wanted Beverly to name his sources regarding the alleged discontent among Hawkes players. Young asked, “Please state your source. My teammate said [you] Isn’t that the Trey Hawks and the Atlanta Hawks?” He pointed out inconsistencies and questioned Beverly’s emotional reactions to past games, particularly a play-in tournament in 2022.

“I’m not going to talk about how we’ll celebrate Play-In’s victory,” Young said, indicating his desire to focus on winning. He acknowledged that while celebrations can be exhilarating, real success is measured in wins, not in individual accolades.

Young concluded by expressing that he holds “something other than love” for Beverly, suggesting a willingness to have a direct conversation with him if necessary.

In the ongoing dialogue, Beverly accused Young of accumulating “empty statistics” and questioned his defense. He asserted, “I’m humble. I’ll accept constructive criticism,” and expressed the hope that these discussions inspire both players, saying, “I hope this motivates me.” Young has averaged impressive stats of 25.3 points and 9.8 assists against Beverly in their matchups.