On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Clippers’ season came to an end, albeit one player’s season ended a few minutes earlier than the rest of the team. Patrick Beverley’s emotions got the best of him during the fourth quarter of the Phoenix Suns’ conference finals-clinching Game 6 triumph against the Clippers, as he shoved Chris Paul in the back and was ejected from the game.
Beverley’s entire career has revolved around his willingness to put his heart on his sleeve, but it got the best of him during Game 6. According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, this might cost Beverley a few games when the 2021-22 season begins.
“Sources informed Yahoo Sports that Beverley will face a ban to begin next season for that hazardous behind-the-back push,” Haynes said.
To his credit, Beverley recognized he’d made a mistake and apologized to Paul on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
It’s not surprising that the NBA would seek to punish Beverley for this, but one might argue that being eliminated from the playoffs is sufficient punishment. We’ll have to wait and see if this means he’ll be out for an extended amount of time, or if Beverley will have to pay for the shove as well.
