Patrick Beverley came under intense scrutiny for his actions during and after the Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
In the final minutes of the Bucks’ blowout loss, Beverley was caught on video throwing a basketball into the stands. After the game, Beverley had a tense exchange with ESPN producer Malinda Adams.
Front Office Sports reported on Friday that a source familiar with the network’s thinking told them that “ESPN management has barred Beverley from any future guest appearances on studio programming.”
But another source familiar with the situation disputed the report on Fox News Digital, noting that Beverly previously served as a guest analyst for the station. But the decision not to invite him back had been made long before Thursday night’s incident occurred.
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Patrick Beverley of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles against the Indiana Pacers during Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on May 2, 2024. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Adams confirmed that Beverley and the Bucs have contacted her and apologized.
“I want to thank you all for your kind words and support. I’m humbled. Patrick Beverley called me and apologized. I appreciate it and I accept it. The Bucks also contacted me to apologize,” Adams said. he wrote on his former Twitter account, X. “I’ve been in the news for over 40 years, and kindness and grace always win.”
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It all started when Beverly asked Adams if he subscribed to the podcast.
“Did you subscribe to my pod?” Beverly asked.
“Not at all,” Adams replied.
During Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley (age 21) dribbles past Indiana Pacers guard TJ McConnell (age 9). (years old) plays defense. (Trevor Rashkowski/USA Today Sports)
When Beverly learned that Adams’ account was not among the more than 260,000 people who subscribed to her podcast, The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone, she told her that she could not interview him.
“You can’t interview me then. No disrespect,” Beverly said.
ESPN did not comment directly on the incident between Beverley and Adams, but the network expressed support for the veteran journalist.
ESPN told Fox News Digital in a statement: “Malinda is a respected colleague and a true professional. We have her full support.”
During the game, cameras showed Beverley sitting on the bench before eventually standing up and firing a basketball at a female Pacers fan who was sitting behind the team’s bench. The ball hit the fan directly in the head.
He appeared to be moving to get the ball back. And when the ball was returned, he threw it again to another fan, who was able to deflect it.
Coaches and other players tried to calm the situation, but Beverley appeared to continue to exchange words with fans sitting behind him.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith commented on Beverley’s actions Thursday night.
“I can’t believe he did that,” Smith said. “I’ve known Patrick Beverley for years. I love my brother. It’s inexcusable. It’s indefensible.”
Beverley later admitted his actions in the ball-throwing incident.
“But I have to be better, and I will,” he wrote to X.
Beverley also suggested that videos published on social media did not take into account the constant heckling of fans during the game.
Patrick Beverley of the Milwaukee Bucks defeats Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers in the first half of Game 1 of the playoffs on April 21, 2024 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Molly Gash)
“It’s not fair at all. All night long there was an exchange between fans and our baseball club. We warned them all night long and asked for help. It’s not fair,” Beverley said, referring to the video. wrote.
Smith said he believes the woman hit by the basketball was not the intended target, but also made it clear that Beverley should never have thrown the basketball into the stands in the first place.
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“When he threw the ball into the stands, he didn’t mean to throw it to the woman. He meant to throw it to the guy in front of her…the second time he threw the ball. But he never should have. The first time. It’s not your thing to (throw) it,” Smith said.
“We don’t do that. And Lord knows we’re not trying to excuse what the fans do or what the fans say. … We can’t do that. Players suffer a lot from the fans. The words they say to these players.
“But that doesn’t excuse you from exercising professional courtesy and professional duty to yourself, the franchise you represent, and the league you represent. I haven’t.”
FOX News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
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