Patrick Beverley: NBA player calls his actions ‘inexcusable’ as Indianapolis police investigate following fan incident

CNN
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Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley called his actions “inexcusable” after an incident in the final minutes of a playoff game last week resulted in the 35-year-old throwing a ball at a spectator.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) told CNN in a statement on Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into an incident involving an “NBA player and citizen” at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 2, the evening the Bucks’ season loss to the Bucks Indiana Pacers.

With just over two minutes left in the sixth game of the series, Beverley, who was sitting on the bench, threw a ball into the stands and appeared to hit a spectator in the head.

The police statement said that “at the time of the incident, officers completed an initial case report and forwarded it to IMPD detectives who are “currently investigating this situation and are taking all allegations seriously.”

The police statement added that detectives are working with the arena to “review the video footage and plan interviews with the parties involved.”

The press release continued: “Detectives will present the case to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office upon completion of the investigation.”

CNN has reached out to the NBA and the Bucks for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Beverley spoke about the incident on his podcast, “The Pat Bev Podcast,” on Wednesday. He said he was insulted with a word he had “never used before”, but added it was an “unfortunate situation that should never have happened”.

“I’ve been called someone a lot in this league,” Beverley added. “I haven’t been called that yet… Still inexcusable. It doesn’t matter what was said. I have to be better and I will be better.”

It’s unclear what the viewer allegedly said to Beverley.

Beverley added that he didn’t want to disappoint the Indiana fans, who he thought were “great,” but some went “a little too far.”

A day after the loss, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers called Beverley’s behavior “not the Milwaukee or Bucks way.”

Rivers added: “We’re better than this. Pat (Beverley) feels terrible about it. He also understands emotionally – this is an emotional game and things happen – unfortunately you are judged straight away and he lets the emotions get the best of him.”

The Bucks lost 120-98 and were eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

Beverley, who just completed his 12th year in the league, was traded to the Bucks from the Philadelphia 76ers in February and averaged 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.