Patrick Beverley Game 6 incident with Pacers fan behind Bucks bench under investigation by Indianapolis police
Patrick Beverley Game 6 incident with Pacers fan behind Bucks bench under investigation by Indianapolis police
With 2:32 left in the Pacers' Game 6 120-98 blowout win over the Bucks, Patrick Beverley intentionally threw a basketball at a fan behind the bench twice. It is now under investigation by IMPD.
An investigation is underway for an incident that occurred between Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley and a Pacers fan in row two behind the Bucks’ bench on May 2, Fieldhouse Files has confirmed.
With 2:32 left in the Pacers’ Game 6 close-out win, video captured by the TNT broadcast shows Beverley throwing a ball at a fan in Pacers gear behind the bench.
Beverley missed the first time, instead hitting a woman in the second row behind team staff members. But then he forcefully threw the ball with both hands at who appeared to be his intended target.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) investigation comes after officers completed an initial case report that night.
According to a spokesperson, that report has been forwarded to detectives, “who are currently investigating this situation and take all accusations seriously. Detectives are working with Gainbridge Fieldhouse to review video footage and plan to speak with the parties involved.”
The spokesperson added that detectives will present the case to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office at the conclusion of the investigation.
The investigation was first reported by The Athletic.
“That’s just wrong,” Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said. “He’s gonna get suspended for that. And that’s going to be a good one too because he didn’t do it once, he did it twice.”
After the season-ending Bucks loss, Beverley asked ESPN’s well-respected producer Malinda Adams to leave his postgame media scrum at his locker because she didn’t subscribe to his podcast.
He did this while wearing a knit hat that read “Subscribe to the pod.”
Adams later tweeted: “I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support. I am humbled. Patrick Beverley just called me and apologized. I appreciate it and accept it. The Bucks also reached out to apologize. I've been in news for over 40 years and kindness and grace always win.”
As for Beverley intentionally throwing a ball not once, but twice at a fan in the crowd, he was asked about it at the end of his interview. “No, don’t worry about that,” he said. “Nothing.”
Later that night, he tweeted the following message:
Not Fair at all. Exchanged between a fan and our ball club all night. We warned and asked for help all night. Not fair.
And then again six hours later.
But I have to be better. And I will
A message that night sent to an NBA spokesman was not returned.