“Why I Went Into The Weight Room”: LA Clippers Guard Reveals the NBA Star Who Compelled Him to Work Harder

The LA Clippers are gradually cementing their place as the team to beat in the west. Upon signing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the same year, they have become a mighty force to reckon with. The Clippers stand second in the western conference with eight regular-season games remaining. 

Another player who has been a powerful presence in the team is defensive stalwart, Patrick Beverly. The 32-year-old has evolved to become one of the best defensive players in the league. 

Beverly has no trouble guarding any player he’s assigned. He’s had intense matchups with several stars, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and many of the league’s dominant players. But who is the one player who gave Beverly a handful while playing against him? Who made Beverly go the extra mile and put in more work to develop his game?

LA Clippers star Patrick Beverly names the player who troubles him the most

In a recent appearance on ‘The JJ Redick Podcast,’ Beverly opened up about his toughest opponent and revealed it to be Trail Blazers star, Damian Lillard. “I say Dame. I give it to him,” Beverly said.

“Dame is one of the reasons why I went into the weight room. I told my guys, ‘Hey, I gotta get faster laterally. I don’t feel like I’m fast.'” Apparently Lillard made Beverly question his own game. “‘I can’t keep up with the speed right now. I don’t know if I need to hire a new f—ing team. But I need to get f—ing faster.'”

Wow, it is usually the other way around, but we didn’t know that Lillard has managed to create such an impact on Pat Bev’s mindset. Moreover, Beverly reasoned why Lillard has grown from being called ‘Steph Light’ to becoming his own brand. 

“He’s in a system where they allow him to be exactly who he is in order for them to win at a high level,” Beverley said. “Those half-court shots are like — for me that’s layups and corner shots — half-court shots for him, though. The dynamic is very different when you’re going out there preparing for a player like that. Way different.”

Lillard has certainly emerged to be one of the best players in the NBA at the moment. His stand-out three-point shooting has made him a prolific scorer in the league. Moreover, the Clippers take on the Blazers on August 8 and we can’t wait to see Lillard and Beverly face off once again!