Patrick Beverley was suspended four games for throwing balls at Pacers fans and interacting inappropriately with a reporter

The NBA has suspended Bucks guard Patrick Beverley for four games without pay for throwing a basketball at Pacers fans multiple times in the final minutes of Milwaukee’s Game 6 elimination loss to Indiana and for making it “inappropriate” during media availability Interaction” with a reporter came, the league announced Thursday .

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the ball throwing incident, which occurred approximately two and a half minutes before the end of the game. After 20 minutes, Beverley threw a basketball from the team bench at a fan sitting behind him. He appeared to miss his target, a male Pacers fan, instead hitting a female Pacers fan in the side of the head before reclaiming the ball.

The man collected the ball and threw it back to Beverley, who immediately threw it over his head with both hands back to the fan. The fan deflected the ball as Bucks staff and security intervened, but the fan and Beverley continued to exchange words.

A case report was filed that night after an officer observed the interaction, and investigators are investigating the incident, a police spokesman previously said. They are working with Gainbridge Fieldhouse to review video footage and plan to speak with those involved. The results of the investigation will be presented to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether to file charges.

According to a source who witnessed the incident and two others who were briefed on it, the exchange between Beverley and one of the fans behind the bench escalated as the Bucks were breaking up a huddle and the fan shouted “Cancun…Cancun on 3.” .

These sources indicate that obscenities were uttered towards Beverley in the run-up to the escalation.

When asked about the exchange after the game, Beverley said: “Nah, don’t worry about it. Nothing.”

Patrick Beverley threw the ball at a fan at the end of Game 6.

🎥 @StephNoh pic.twitter.com/6rIKEDbIJu

– The Athlete (@TheAthletic) May 3, 2024

He also addressed the exchange in one Post on his X accountcommented on a video of the incident with the caption: “Argument between Pat Bev and Pacers fans behind the bench.”

“Not fair at all,” Beverley wrote. “Exchanged all night between a fan and our ball club. We warned all night and asked for help. Not fair.”

In a separate post, Beverley wrote to X: “But I need to get better. And I will.”

But I have to get better. And I will 🙏🏾❤️

— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) May 3, 2024

The incident with fans later preceded an exchange with Beverley on May 2 that drew widespread criticism. Beverley told ESPN producer Malinda Adams during a postgame media call that she couldn’t ask him a question because she wasn’t subscribed to his podcast. Adams said on social media on May 3 that Beverley called her and apologized for the exchange.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he spoke to Beverley about his actions.

“I did it right away (talked to Beverley) because that’s not the Milwaukee way or the Bucks way,” Rivers said. “We’re better than this. Pat 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.”

Rivers said he discussed the ball throwing incident with Beverley.

“He commented to me about what was being said in his manner and I just said, ‘I understand, but we’re coaches and athletes, we’re the entertainers or whatever we are.’ “Sometimes (fans) can be wrong, but certain things you just can’t do.” And he knows it,” Rivers said.

Beverley scored six points and added five assists and two rebounds in Game 6. He averaged 8.6 points in the playoffs and peaked at 13 points.

The guard came to the Bucks in February via a trade that gave the Philadelphia 76ers a second-round pick and Cameron Payne. Beverley averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in 26 games with Milwaukee during the regular season.

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(Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)