The NBA suspended free agent guard Patrick Beverley for four games without pay for angrily hurling a basketball into the stands during his team's season-ending loss, officials said Thursday.
As Beverley's Milwaukee Bucks were being eliminated by the host Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their playoff series last week, he threw a basketball into seats behind the visitors' bench.
The ball appeared to hit a fan in the face, and when it got lobbed back to Beverley, he threw it into the crowd again.
On his "Pat Bev Podcast" on Tuesday, Beverley admitted being at fault.
“Unfortunate situation that should’ve never happened," he said. “What I did was bad, and that should have never happened. I have to be better, and I will be better. That should have never happened, regardless of what was said, simple as that.”
After the game in which the ball was hurled, Beverley refused to answer questions from ESPN producer Malinda Adams.
Beverley, 35, is an unrestricted free agent, so his next team would, presumably, be forced keep him off the court for four regular season games.
The NBA took more severe action against Beverley than it did against Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray, who threw a heat pack onto the court Monday during the Nuggets' playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The object landed at the feet of Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns and near teammates Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Murray was fined $100,000 but has not faced suspension.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called Murray's tantrum "inexcusable and dangerous."
