There are very few NBA players who walk a fine line with the things they say or the actions they do. They are generally the troublemakers or outspoken generals of the team. Draymond Green and Patrick Beverley might be two of the most apt examples of the same. Recently, when the Bucks lost their playoff battle to the Pacers, Pat Bev had a sour moment. He refused to answer questions from a journalist simply because she wasn’t subscribed to his podcast. At the time it seemed unreasonable and petty. But what was the true reason for Beverley’s uncalled overreaction?

The Bucks starlet recently appeared on Gil’s Arena. Surrounded by his NBA peers on the couch, he spoke about his podcast being a medium for him to control his narrative. Beverley mentioned how things he or Green say are generally taken out of context and brandished in a false light by various media houses. All Beverley wanted was for them to mention his podcast. “I wear my pod on my sleeve” he told the crew. The 35-year-old is passionate regarding his show wanting to be the best like “f*****g Joe Rogan. I don’t want to be Draymond Green or Paul George“ he told Gil’s Arena.

As far as the incident with the ESPN reporter goes, Beverley explained his intentions too. “I want to be able to control my narrative. So I go around the whole year and seven months since I have had my pod, I meet guys. Like Joshua, he was with the Athletic. Then before we do this interview are you subscribed to my pod because you y’all be taking what I am saying and taking it out of context and putting it places and getting all this press from it. And then I am sitting back looking like ‘Damn, y’all ain’t even show no love. Y’all ain’t even mentioning the pod”, the defensive anchor explained.

Addressing his dismissal of the ESPN reporter due to her not subscribing to his podcast (The Pat Bev Podcast), Beverley claimed he didn’t mean to be rude. He was only trying to attain respect for his show from the reporters who use the content that he provides. Of course, infuriation from the Bucks’ loss played a part in his reaction too. However, after witnessing the public outburst, he immediately called the reporter and apologized.

The outrage that followed Patrick Bervely’s antics

Following Beverely’s apparent disrespect towards the ESPN producer Malinda Adams. The first to defend her was ESPN colleague and face of the media house, Stephen A. Smith. Putting his deep respect and relationship with Patrick Beverley aside, the veteran analyst slaughtered the Bucks starlet for his actions. “I just can’t believe he did that. I’ve known Patrick Beverley for years. I love the brother. It’s inexcusable. It’s indefensible“, Smith said in a frantic First Take segment.

Furthermore, ESPN also released a statement clarifying their full support for Adams. There were also reports of Patrick Beverley being banned from appearing on any ESPN shows. However, they were later rejected by ESPN employees. Hence, he can still make an appearance on shows aired by the network.

The NBA issued a four-game suspension on Beverley following the incident. It boiled from the time he threw a ball at a Pacers fan during the Bucks’ game 6 loss to Indiana, even hitting the side of a woman’s head. His inadequate decorum in the locker room further pushed the NBA to take action.