We often hear criticism of the NBA due to players being friends with each other instead of rivals. However, despite the friendship era in the NBA, we still see players with a competitive spirit against the opposing teams. Let's look at the Western Conference Finals, for example. The OKC Thunder took a comfortable 3-1 lead in the series after their 128-126 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.
Patrick Beverley, the former teammate of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, claims the OKC Thunder superstar refused to dap him up after Game 4 in Minnesota simply because he was wearing an Anthony Edwards jersey. After his 40-point performance in Game 4, Gilgeous-Alexander refused to celebrate with his former teammate due to his competitive spirit. Beverley went on his podcast and spoke about the experience.
“I’mma tell you about Shai, how cold Shai is. I go to Shai after the game to dap him up. He says, ‘I ain’t gonna lie, I can’t dap you up right now, OG.’ Uh, the f**k? Why? ‘Why? You had on that mf jersey. Jersey I had on was Anthony Edwards. That’s the mindset you have to have. Don’t even come near me with that jersey on- type sh*t. I respect it, I like it, that’s how you have to be. I knew where it’s coming from, it’s coming from a good place, it’s coming from an organic place, and he locked in. That’s what I took like, oh yeah, he locked tf in right now, I love it”
Gilgeous-Alexander was drafted by the Clippers during the time Patrick Beverley still played for them. Despite being former teammates with Beverley, he refused to greet him nicely because he was wearing his opponent, Anthony Edwards' jersey, at the game. To be fair to Beverley, you can't blame him for supporting the Timberwolves as he played for them and not for the Thunder. But Gilgeous-Alexander refused to mingle with the opposing side's fans, irrespective of his personal history with them. That's the type of competitive spirit we still respect around the league.
Chris Finch Didn't Let Patrick Beverley Speak To Timberwolves Before Game 4
According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Chris Finch, the Timberwolves' head coach, spoke to the media about Patrick Beverley's attendance in the game. The reporters asked him whether he would invite Beverley to the locker room to speak to the team and motivate them.
“No, I’ve had enough Pat Beverley pregame speeches," he said.
Beverley played for the Timberwolves in the 2021-22 season. He played 52 games while averaging 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He was a part of the Clippers from 2017 to 2021. Chris Finch was hired by the Timberwolves in the same year they signed Patrick Beverley. Finch did not want a memory from his initial years with the Timberwolves in the locker room.
The Timberwolves have now been eliminated from the Playoffs after a Game 5 loss on the road. They got blown out by 30 points and lost the game 94-124. Edwards finished the game with 19 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander had 34 points.
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