Bucks’ Patrick Beverley suspended for throwing ball at fans and interacting with reporter

Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley was suspended four games without pay for throwing a basketball at spectators multiple times and what the NBA called “inappropriate interaction with a reporter during media availability.”

With the Bucks ready for the postseason, Beverley faces the suspension in the 2024-25 season.

Beverley’s actions took place during and after the Bucks’ 120-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on May 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Beverley threw a ball — not once, but twice — at Pacers fans during an altercation near the Bucks’ bench and later told an ESPN employee that she couldn’t interview him because she wasn’t subscribed to his podcast. He later called her to apologize.

As Bucks coach Doc Rivers began benching the starters at the end of the fourth quarter after his team’s 120-98 loss, Beverley got into a heated argument with a male fan behind the bench.

Beverley was caught on camera throwing the ball towards the fan, only to hit a woman next to him in the head. As the man passed the ball back to Beverly, the Bucks guard fired it back her way a second time.

Charles Barkley of NBA on TNT called for Beverley to be suspended.

“Man, he hit that lady in the head, he’s getting suspended,” Barkley said on air.

“Listen, I did stupid things and got criticized for them. That is simply wrong. He is suspended for this. And that will be good too. Because he never did it once. He did it twice.”

In the locker room after the game, Beverley, who shot 3 of 11 for 6 points, then told ESPN producer Malinda Adams that she couldn’t do an interview because she wasn’t subscribed to his podcast.

Despite his request, the other reporters in the crowd continued to ask questions and interview Beverly.

“You could please move the microphone or just step out of the circle, please ma’am if you’re not subscribed to my pod,” he said. “Thank you very much.”

Adams posted that Beverley later called her to apologize.