Fresh off the heels of the New York Knicks’ historic, city-stopping ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes, the basketball world is locked in a fierce debate over the state of the league. Following the Knicks’ definitive 2026 championship victory over the Spurs, critics on national television have tried to diminish the modern era of parity, dismissing single titles in a dynasty-less league as mere “participation trophies.”

But if you want to know what it actually takes to hoist a Larry O’Brien trophy in today’s hyper-competitive NBA, you don’t look at the media talking heads—you talk to the guys who have survived the trenches.

Over a storied 12-year NBA run, Patrick Beverley built a reputation as the ultimate culture setter and perimeter disruptor. Having shared locker rooms with the most dominant, polarizing superstars of this generation, the Chicago native knows exactly what the casual fan gets wrong about winning. Sitting down for an unfiltered, exclusive conversation, Beverley pulls back the curtain on the raw truth of Kawhi Leonard’s work ethic, James Harden’s hidden generosity, and why Jalen Brunson’s seven-trophy season means the “participation trophy” narrative doesn’t mean a damn thing.

The Global Journey & Euro League Reality

Before capturing the attention of the NBA, Patrick Beverley’s professional basketball identity was forged in the grueling, overseas circuits of Ukraine and Greece. Transitioning between the structured luxury of the NBA and the highly regulated, team-first environment of European basketball requires a complete shift in player infrastructure. 

Now having returned to the international stage late in his career, Beverley offers a rare, multi-generational viewpoint on what American players misunderstand about the global game. It is a world where team curfews override superstar treatment and coaching power reigns supreme.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Pat, you spent time playing overseas with Hapoel Tel Aviv and PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece. For guys who have only ever known the NBA infrastructure, what is the biggest wake-up call about the style of play, the intensity of the crowds, and the daily grind in Europe?

Patrick Beverley: I’m gonna start with—I don’t think people talk a lot about the way we travel, right? It’s team gear, everything. Right? It’s team issue, everything. It’s not a lot of freedom. My comparison would be more… I compare Europe to more of like a college atmosphere. You eat breakfast together, you eat lunch together, eat dinner together. You got maybe two team meetings together. The coach is the alpha male, not the main player when it comes to outside of basketball.

But the grind, right? You talk about… I’ve played maybe out the week, we play two games a week, maybe we practice three, four times out of that week. Maybe we play 5-on-5, we go up and down three times a week. So just being in shape, you know, knowing how to play the game. The NBA has so many games in 82 games that maybe you practice 5-on-5 once a week because there’s so many games. In Europe, since the games are less, guys practice a lot more. A lot more. I mean practice—I mean take practice—I mean 4-on-4, 5-on-5, a lot of 3-on-2s, 2-on-1 drills, just a lot of different actions to symbolize the game.

And when it comes to, obviously, the game, the game is very different, right? You got no defensive three seconds. You got a guy who’s always in the paint, sitting there all the time, right? So even if you do beat your defender, you got a guy right there. The court is obviously smaller than the NBA court. The three-point line in Europe is closer compared to the NBA. So you really have to play everyone honest. It’s not like it’s a guy who really can’t shoot. A guy can make a couple, you know?

So I think when it comes to those type of things, that’s the difference between the NBA and Europe. And sometimes what I’ve learned is that a lot of people who played in the NBA, who are used to that much freedom, they struggle with Europe in the beginning. You know, following so many rules. You have to be at practice at 9 AM, and by the time you’re done with practicing, it might be 3 PM. When you travel, you get to a nice city—in the NBA, maybe you can go have dinner. In Europe? No, uh-uh. You have to have team dinner. It’s a curfew. You have to be back in the hotel by about 11 o’clock. Like, it’s very militant, but in a very good way. Like, you can catch a vibe in it. So, I think that’s the comparison.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You started your pro career overseas in Ukraine and Greece before grinding away into the NBA, and now you’ve gone back. How did your perspective on the European game change going back as a seasoned 12-year NBA vet versus when you were a 20-year-old trying to prove you belonged?

Patrick Beverley: So when I… my first professional team was a team in the second division in Ukraine, right? Man, we took the train everywhere. We didn’t even take a bus. No one in the city really spoke English. So the next year when I played in Greece, I thought that was kind of the same thing. No one spoke English, so I kind of stayed to myself, right? I kind of just practiced with the team. I hired a strength and conditioning coach outside of the team. So I’d practice with the team, and I had my own coach while I practiced also, so I would just keep myself busy. My whole mindset was, I want to get to the NBA. I want to get to the NBA. I want to get to the NBA, right? So, you know, I was able to accomplish that.

So when I went back, I kind of… it’s like I’m enjoying it more, right? I was in Greece, I’m at all these different cities that at the time, I didn’t even know. Paris, all these different places. We played in Lithuania—the crowds were great. We played in Poland—the crowds were great. Like, I didn’t get a chance to appreciate the different places I played all around the world the first time. So after I was done and now I’m in my 30s, I can appreciate when we go to Spain and play. I appreciate Greece now when we have a day off. I can go to Athens or I can go to Mykonos and kind of relax on my day off. It’s like I appreciate the European life more now that I’m older.

The “Pat Bev” Blueprint & NBA Culture

The public image of an NBA star is often engineered by social media highlights, shoe deals, and press releases. Inside the locker room, however, an entirely different reality exists—one driven by relentless physical exhaustion and complex psychological dynamics. 

Having spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of competitive pressure, Patrick Beverley explains the intricate rhythm of elite defensive coverage. He breaks down the human side of iconic teammates like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, dismantling the false perceptions held by casual basketball observers.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You are widely respected and feared for your ability to get under an opponent’s skin and disrupt their entire flow. Is psychological warfare something you script into a game plan or is it purely instinctual based on the energy of the floor?

Patrick Beverley: I think it’s all instinct, right? I grew up in Chicago as an offensive-minded player; I averaged 36 points. So when I’m playing defense, I’m only doing the things that I know that I wouldn’t like. I know that I didn’t like pressure, so, okay, cool—I apply pressure, I pressure the ball. I know that I didn’t like physicality. I didn’t like people touching me. I didn’t like people slapping the ball out of my hands after the referee blew the whistle. Like, I try to flirt with that line of watch out for him, but at the same time, keep it professional where it’s not dirty. I like flirting between those lines.

And I think this is the most underrated part—and I’m not trying to toot my own horn, obviously, I’m just answering questions right now—but the underrated part about me defensively is I watch a ton of film. I watch a ton of film, and I don’t watch film on like the moves players make. I watch film on the rhythm of how they make the moves. If I can throw off your rhythm, I don’t even have to play defense on the move. You know?

Take Paul George, right? His rhythm is like a two-step. One, two, you go tween, cross, tween, hesi, tween, behind, right? So now, if I can speed that up and make that one-two a one… oh, he can’t get to the two. I don’t have to worry about his step-back. I don’t have to worry about his snatch. Like, I threw off the rhythm, so I’m in a good position, right? So I think that’s my thing. I’ve always tried to throw off guys’ rhythm. If I throw off a guy’s rhythm, I don’t even have to guard the move. I’m good already.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: The NBA has shifted towards analytics, spacing, and offensive efficiency. Do you think front offices today still know how to properly value the unquantifiable things—the screen setting, the psychological edge, the absolute dog mentality that you built a career on?

Patrick Beverley: Um, I think when you talk about analytics, I think it’s good for the basketball court. I don’t think it’s good for the locker room. Right? And this is the thing that a lot of people don’t talk about with analytics: the feel. Yeah, I might shoot a good percentage from the right wing, but a guy in the right corner doesn’t shoot the three at all. So, do I sacrifice being a bad teammate and shoot a contested shot because he can’t shoot a corner three, or do I make the right play?

Analytics are great, right? They’ve improved our game. It’s allowed guys to offensively do a ton of stuff, especially with the space we have. But analytics can also mess up a team. I feel like making the right play is always the best offense, no matter what the numbers say. Good energy always finds the right person—early ball movement, getting stops. Those are things that analytics really can’t judge. The locker room, right? “This person shoots this percentage from here, he’s only allowed to shoot it here.” Well, what if he gets hot? What if he feels good? I think the human nature of being a basketball player… I think that’s kind of like the Achilles’ heel when you talk about analytics. It takes the human nature out of basketball.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You’ve played alongside some of the most dominant personalities of this generation—James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo. What is the biggest misconception the public has about how those top-tier superstars actually want to be pushed by their teammates?

Patrick Beverley: I think everyone’s different, but everyone’s the same. Those guys that you named, all those guys wanted the raw truth. All those guys wanted—you feel me?—they might not agree with everything, but all those guys wanted to be coached. I think the average and casual fans don’t understand. I get on the plane with James Harden, and his arms just have all these scratches on them, like he got into a fight with a saber-toothed tiger or something. Just deep scratches on his arms. Kawhi has scratches on his arms. Dwight Howard has scratches on his arms. A lot of people don’t understand that. You’re talking about your flesh getting pulled out, people with nails ripping your flesh out of you game after game after game.

You’re talking about the physicality, guys fouling, you getting to the free-throw line, the pressure of leading a team at the highest level of basketball ever, and trying to do that night after night. People don’t understand how tough 82 games really is. To be able to play in 82 games, to be able to produce on back-to-backs, to be able to be leaders for your team—that takes a toll on everybody. I don’t think people understand that. That’s a whole different lifestyle these superstars have to deal with, all while adding in the money, adding in the legacy, and trying to be the best in your craft.

So when it comes to those guys, each one of them is different in their own way, but each of them is searching for… it’s like, I compare it to Mr. Ferrari, right? He made the fastest car, and he wanted to beat his own mark again. It was like he was chasing himself, and that’s how I look at those guys. They’re chasing a legacy that they’ve already earned. Giannis has already earned every award, Kawhi’s earned Michael Jordan-type awards, LeBron James is rewriting history. The competition is between themselves, not with everyone else.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: As a follow-up to that question, out of those guys that I mentioned, whose temperaments are most similar off the court? There’s a standard there. You look at Kawhi as stoic and not saying much. You look at LeBron as—in my opinion, earlier in his career, he wanted to be everybody’s friend, but at a point, he appeared to stop caring what people say. Anthony Davis, he just moves like a Chicago dude. James Harden, people think that he’s a party animal. And then Giannis, I think the world on the national stage is getting to know him more than they did prior to this. We see what that looks like on the court and the perceptions that media gives, but off the court, whose temperaments are most similar?

Patrick Beverley: All right, okay, I see what you mean. So with Kawhi, right—in my opinion, and I’ve spent a ton of time with Kawhi. Out of the people I’ve spent a ton of time with in the NBA, I would say James Harden early in our careers, and Kawhi. I spent the most time with those two. Kawhi is… he’s a different animal. And I mean that in the most positive way, too. I’ve never seen a person work as hard as Kawhi works. I mean, there are no days off. Every day he’s doing something regarding basketball. The love of basketball is so deep in Kawhi that he knows so much about it. Basketball is literally the air he breathes.

With James Harden, when me and Beard got together, we were really young. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. The most years I’ve ever played with one teammate was James Harden. You’re talking about rewriting a new name, getting out from under Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and establishing his own name. Can he lead a team? Turning his game from a shooting guard to a point guard. Just evolving and pushing the game. And people don’t understand how much work James Harden puts in day in, day out.

The media and fans see what they see because these guys are very private. But to me, Kawhi is one of the funniest teammates I’ve ever had, even though to the real world he looks very quiet. To me, James Harden is one of the most giving teammates I’ve ever had in my entire life. The man is the reason why I only drive Rolls-Royces now, you know? Like, he’d say, “Hey Pat, drive the Rolls, drive the Rolls.” Coming from overseas, I didn’t know what a Rolls-Royce was! I’m talking about different clothing and all that stuff—he’d give you the clothes off his back. A lot of people don’t understand that. These guys are very human.

And they all possess greatness. LeBron James was my mentor. I was his rookie when I first got drafted to the Heat. He taught me how to be in the game for as long as I have been. He taught me about longevity, what hard work is, what attention to detail is. Being on time, taking care of your body, “don’t do this pass, do this pass.” It was always about the right stuff. So I don’t think those guys get a lot of credit for being great humans.

Media, Legacy & Turning the Page

Beyond the baseline, the modern athlete faces a secondary battle ground: managing public narratives and protecting their personal name. 

In this section, Patrick Beverley addresses why he chose to claim equity in the media space mid-career through independent podcasting rather than waiting for retirement. He reflects deeply on navigating a highly publicized, stressful legal vindication in Texas that involved intricate family dynamics. 

Ultimately, Beverley details how painful personal roots fuel the relentless, defensive confidence required to pave a lane for future undersized guards.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You’ve built a massive platform in the media space with your own broadcast and unfiltered commentary. Why was it vital for you to establish your own direct voice when you were still actively playing rather than waiting until retirement like the old school did?

Patrick Beverley: I thought it’d be cool, right? Because as I go through the media, most of the people that I reach out to are from 14 years old to 35 years old. So I got a broad range. I like to talk about basketball, I like to talk about real life, and I like to give my honest opinion. I think that over the years, my honest opinion has offered a different perspective than a lot of people. My voice says a lot of things that people want to say but don’t know how to say, or are afraid to say. I’m not afraid. If I’m looking at the sky right now and it looks white because of the clouds, but you call me crazy and say it’s blue—yeah, motherfucker, I know it’s blue. But right now, it’s white. And that’s my perspective. That’s my truth, you know? So I’ve found a way to have my perspective flirt on the lines between do we believe it or do we not believe it? Has he gone too far? I found a line to be respectful, but at the same time voice my opinion without trying to disrespect anybody.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You went through a very stressful legal situation back in Texas that was fully cleared and no-billed by a grand jury this past February. When the media runs with an initial headline before all the facts are out, how challenging is it as a public figure to navigate that space and restore your name?

Patrick Beverley: Uh, obviously, very, very hard, right? You’re talking about losing a show, having to get it back. You’re talking about… I have children, you know? And at the same time, it’s a family situation. Like, that’s the hardest part, right? Because, obviously, I want to tell the truth of it, but I can’t because it’s my sister. It’s a family situation. So it’s family business, and it stays family business.

But I’m always a firm believer that… look, I’ve been through so much in my life, right? I’ve buried friends, I’ve buried family members. I’m from the streets of Chicago, and I’m not saying that to have that same old narrative like, “Oh, he’s from the hood, he made it out.” I’m just saying that I’ve been tested by life time after time after time. And one thing that I know is that with God, I always end up in a better position than I was in before.

This was probably one of the toughest situations I’ve had to deal with—restoring my name. And people still don’t understand the honest truth of what happened. You’re talking about trying to save a child, right? Trying to save a young teenage girl. You’re trying to do things because you don’t want your sister to grow up too fast. You’re trying to save a teenage girl who, at times, can be rebellious. You’re trying to do the necessary things, and everyone has their family problems. I’m not going to speak too much about that, but when it comes to young teenagers, especially now as we see all around the world, it’s a tough age to navigate through. It really is. It takes a lot of discipline, it takes a lot of structure.

And I’m not speaking for every teenager because my daughter is one of the top basketball players, and my son is a great kid, he goes to school. But you do have those kids in your family—those cousins, those sisters, children of whoever—that need a little bit more attention. And you kind of look at yourself like, man, did I do a good job? I had to look at myself like, have I slacked in the department of emotionally being there for my sister? Should I have stayed in the house and played with Barbies with her instead of saying, “Hey sister, here’s a big house with a swimming pool”—just giving and giving, without some family members understanding the meaning behind it? So, you’re talking about a tough situation, but I was tested. It was hard, it was frustrating. I’m just happy that it’s over, but it was another lesson that I needed to go through. It gave me a different outlook on what family really means, and I learned a ton from that. I’m a better man because of it.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When young guards coming out of Chicago or anywhere else say, “I want to play like Pat Bev,” what exactly does that mean to you? What do you hope your ultimate legacy is in the basketball world?

Patrick Beverley: I have NBA guys like Jose Alvarado and TJ McConnell come up to me at games and be like, “Yo Pat, thanks for paving the way for small guards like us.” Right? I don’t got a Steph Curry shot. I don’t have a Kyrie Irving handle. I’m not 6’9″ like LeBron James, I’m not 6’10” like Kevin Durant. I had to get it out the mud. I had to find a way to reinvent myself in this league year after year after year after year.

People say they want to play like Pat Bev, but at the same time, do you know how many years I had to sacrifice not being around my family just to go over here and work on my body? Okay, cool, I want to be a defensive guard, so I had to make sure my conditioning was in tip-top shape. It’s a lot of sacrifice that I had to make throughout my career.

But if I can leave anything, it’ll be playing hard. It’d be having heart. It’d be being a dog and not backing down. Like, don’t give up. You fall, of course, but pick your fucking self up fast. Get the fuck up now, you know? I kind of call it delusional confidence. Like, have so much confidence in your game that people actually think you’re delusional. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got Kevin Durant, I’m about to lock him down.” Like, what? “Yeah, motherfucker, I got Kevin Durant, I’m about to lock him down.” You own it, you live in it, and you be it.

That’s the thing I want these young kids to have, because everyone’s not going to be the tallest guy, and everyone’s not going to be Kyrie Irving or Steph Curry. There are a lot of average-sized kids out here that are my size. How can you impact winning? Have that delusional confidence. And that delusional confidence didn’t start when I got to the NBA. That delusional confidence started when I was seven years old, waiting for my mom to come pick me up and she never showed. Using that type of pain and going to the basketball court. “I’m going to the NBA.” I’m in a neighborhood where kids don’t even make it out of high school, and I’m going to the basketball court when it’s snowing in Chicago with a basketball and a shovel. I’m talking about having so much confidence that yes, I’m going to the NBA no matter what my situation is, no matter what anyone tells me, no matter what my family issues are, no matter what size I am, and no matter what life throws at me. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I think that’s the biggest key.

Current NBA Trends & The Narrative

The landscape of the modern NBA has shifted into an era of unpredictable parity, completely upending traditional championship expectations. 

Following the Knicks’ breathtaking championship victory over Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, a major structural debate has ignited over the validity of single-title runs versus multi-year dynasties.

 In this culminating segment, Patrick Beverley contextualizes Jalen Brunson’s all-time historical standing, direct media hypocrisies, and how today’s competitive environment mirrors tournament execution. He drops highly strategic analysis on structural fits, including a potential powerhouse pairing of Ja Morant alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You recently went on SiriusXM NBA Radio and dropped a take that got the whole internet talking, stating that Jalen Brunson has surpassed Allen Iverson in the all-time rankings after leading the Knicks to that historic 2026 championship over the Spurs. As a smaller guard who knows the absolute physical toll it takes to win at the highest level, why does leading a franchise to a ring carry that much weight for you when evaluating a player’s all-time legacy?

Patrick Beverley: So, I previously made a take comparing James Harden and Dwyane Wade, and the algorithm came back to me saying that D-Wade is better because of championships. So I wanted to throw a bone out there, take what the algorithm gave me, and use it on other people, right? In this situation, I used Brunson, which was a perfect example. And then people came back to me and said, “No Pat, AI is AI.” And I’m looking at them like, okay, now I’m confused. I’m really confused. Y’all just told me D-Wade was better than James Harden because of championships, knowing how to win, and getting his hands dirty. Now I pick Brunson, a guy in a David-and-Goliath type of matchup—if you saw the steel frames of Jalen Brunson and Wimby at the end of the fourth quarter, it really looked like David versus Goliath. The smallest guy on the court versus the tallest guy in the NBA. It looked crazy. And for a guy to come out there, give you 40, and win a championship? We’re talking about probably one of the best championship runs in NBA history. Why wouldn’t he be up there with the greats? Why wouldn’t he surpass them?

Because what he did was—and we’re talking about not only the championship, but the NBA Cup, the Eastern Conference Finals—the man gained seven trophies in one year. How could he not surpass someone who’s never won a championship based off the logic that everyone just gave me with D-Wade versus James Harden? It just doesn’t make any sense.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: For the record, do you think that Dwyane Wade and James Harden comparison thing is toxic? Because to me, that’s like people arguing whether Jay-Z has surpassed Biggie or vice versa.

Patrick Beverley: I think it’s good for the game of basketball. My thing is, when I talk to my girlfriend or Lil Will—I was talking to Lil Will, and I said, what’s interesting to me is that before everyone had a platform, we were only listening to a couple of guys talk. I get on ESPN or TNT and I hear Shaq, I hear Kenny, I hear Chuck destroy guys. Literally destroy guys, and no one had anything to say back because they didn’t have a platform. Now, for the most part, a lot of people have platforms. I’m literally making comparisons without trying to destroy anybody. I’m just stating what I think. I think it’s healthy, it starts a debate, and it pushes the envelope.

We watch Shaq and all those guys give some guys a lot of positivity and tear other guys down. I watched Shaq talk about Dwight Howard and how he can’t be Superman and all this. But now, when Pat says something, it’s “he’s not qualified” or “you can’t make that comparison.” I think it’s a healthy discussion about the game of basketball between two great shooting guards, and that’s what people don’t really get.

My next one I’m gonna break out—I won’t give it to you too early before I shake the internet again—but my next one is going to be about the Sixth Man. I told Lou Williams, “Lou, you win every category when it comes to sixth men. You have the most Sixth Man awards, the most assists off the bench, the most points off the bench. When it comes to the numbers, you are the best sixth man.” But why are people choosing Manu Ginobili over you? Is Manu Ginobili a better sixth man than Lou? Some people say yes. Why? Because he has championships? So you have all the numbers—most points off the bench, most assists, most 30-point games, all the data showing you’re the best—plus the most awards. And now you’re telling me someone else is better just because they have championships? I don’t get it. And if that is the case, why is it different in Jalen Brunson’s case now?

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Because people pick and choose their outrage.

Patrick Beverley: Yeah, and that’s fair, right? So let’s have a debate about it. Let’s not call people stupid or say it’s just “rage bait.” No, let’s have a discussion about it. In my opinion, what I love to do is back up all my discussions with hard facts. I’m gonna give you hard facts. I’m gonna line ’em up for you. And then after, you give me your hard facts and we debate about it. Whether we come up with a final answer or not, at least we have a different perspective and more clarity.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Okay, so in the media this week, there was the whole dialogue about the “participation trophy” comment on ESPN’s Get Up.

Patrick Beverley: Yeah, I don’t like that.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Tell me why.

Patrick Beverley: Because when you hear people say the bubble championship didn’t count, people went crazy. They said the bubble was the hardest championship to get, this and that. I don’t even know what he meant by his statement because it didn’t make sense. I don’t understand the “participation trophy” angle. Can you give me a little bit more context on what his thought process was? Because I just saw clips. I tried to watch it, but his energy in delivering it didn’t give me what I needed, so I fucking moved on from it. It really didn’t make any sense to me at all.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Basically, on the show, the argument was made that a lack of dynasties and teams failing to win repeat titles right now invalidates single championships. The quote was, “Oh, you mean the participation trophy? If everybody gets one.”

Patrick Beverley: Oh, okay. So, at one time, we clowned people for teaming up and creating championships, right? That’s all dynasties were. That’s all dynasties were—guys saying, “Okay, meet me here, you meet me here, let’s go to Miami,” or “You meet me here, let’s go to Golden State.” That’s all that was, guys teaming up with each other. So now we get away from guys teaming up, guys are doing their own thing, and we see the championship going to the youth more. We see that when teams are evenly balanced, championships go to the youth. The last eight years, it’s been a different champion every year. I don’t see anything wrong with that at all.

I like the competition. I like that you don’t know who’s gonna win a championship every year. I like that Oklahoma City was able to win a championship in a small market, which they used to be frowned upon for. I like that now we get to see the New York Knicks winning a championship, or Denver winning a championship, instead of having eight Hall of Famers on one team. Obviously, if you put eight Hall of Famers on one team, they should win a championship. But I like guys taking their own futures into their own hands and deciding to stay and build. I like what presidents and GMs are doing in the draft. I like the coaches they’re hiring—younger, more modern coaching. The game is changing, right? And some people might not like it while other people love it, but for it to be eight different champions eight years in a row? I think the game is headed to a great place.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Number one, to me, the NBA is seemingly mirroring the NCAA tournament more because you really don’t know who’s going to win.

Patrick Beverley: And I like that because it takes the “sure bet” factor out of it, which is good.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: A few more questions. You also mentioned recently on Run It Back that Victor Wembanyama’s tough Finals run and the sudden “villain” narrative surrounding him is a necessary phase for him to achieve true greatness. Having masterfully embraced the villain role your entire career, what advice do you give a 22-year-old superstar on how to block out that sudden media flip and use that hostility as fuel?

Patrick Beverley: I think it’s just living in your own skin. Just live in your own skin. I’m not telling you to go out there and elbow people in the face all the time. But yeah, if you feel like you want to go at a referee over a missed call, do it. If you feel like you want to take up for your teammate because someone is trying to do too much, yeah, take up for your teammate. Just be respectful of the game—and when I say respectful, I mean respect the game itself so you don’t put yourself at a disadvantage of getting kicked out when your team needs you the most. Okay, you go out there and you get booed. So what?

Look at LeBron. This is a clear case of LeBron James. First they love you, then they hate you, then they love you again. It’s like those Jay-Z vibes, you know what I’m saying? They’re gonna love you, then they’re gonna hate you. If Wemby cries during a game, the media is like, “Oh my god, look at Wemby, he cried during the game, he loves the game so much!” But if Pat Bev cries for a play-in win because he beat his prior team, it’s “Oh, he’s doing too much.” They push the envelope, it makes no sense. Wemby cries, and it’s because he loves the game. Goddamn, I love the game, too! I love it, too, but it just comes with the territory.

And it’ll change. It changed on LeBron James. When he went to Miami, oh, they hated him. They hated him so much, all the stuff they used to say about him. Okay, then he left there, went back to Cleveland, and they loved him. Remember, they burned his jerseys. They literally burnt LeBron James’ jersey. Then he came back to the city and gave them a championship. Then he left and went to the Lakers, and they applauded it. “Yes, yes, yes, go to the Lakers!” Then he wins a championship with the Lakers, and people say it doesn’t count. They hate you, then they love you again, brother.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you think LeBron’s going back to Cleveland?

Patrick Beverley: Uh, I don’t know. That’s a tough one to say. If I’m LeBron, there is no way I’m taking a pay cut. Why would I take a pay cut when I’ve made this NBA the most money they’ve ever seen? Hundreds of millions of dollars I’ve made the NBA in jersey sales and people coming to see me. I made it okay for 6’9″ basketball players to be able to dribble the ball and create. You’re talking about one of the most electric, fine, electrifying players that we’ve ever seen in our lives—still, right now, still. I’m not taking a dime less than anybody if I’m LeBron James. The league owes you that.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: So if you’re LeBron, where would you go?

Patrick Beverley: Whoever can give me the max and bring my son. And I am not wrong. I am not wrong.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What team does Giannis Antetokounmpo fit with the best?

Patrick Beverley: Anything. Close your eyes, spin the wheel—whatever team it lands on, he can help that team.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: My follow-up to that is, do you think Ja Morant playing alongside Giannis in Milwaukee makes sense?

Patrick Beverley: I think it makes perfect sense. And I think it helps Ja. You’re talking about a small city where you can just focus on your craft. I played in Milwaukee—ain’t shit to do in Milwaukee but focus on your craft. And while you’re focusing on your craft, you look to the left and you see that Giannis has already been in the gym for two hours. You’re like, “Damn, okay, cool. I’m gonna get here when Giannis gets here.” You begin to unconsciously change small parts of your game and yourself. Now it becomes a lifestyle change, and that lifestyle change helps your career. Now you’re a different man. You’re a different person. So, yes, I think he would thrive in Milwaukee.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Last question. You spent 12 years establishing yourself as one of the most resilient, culture-setting guards in the league. When you look at the landscape of the NBA today, which young player currently in the league do you look at and say, “That kid has the closest thing to the Pat Bev DNA”?

Patrick Beverley: Jeremy Fears. That’s his name, right? Jeremiah Fears. Jeremiah Fears, love him to death. Ayo Dosunmu, love him. The kid from OKC, Cason Wallace. Devion Mitchell, now with Miami. Yeah. Yeah, I like that list.

Wrapping Up

By the time the final question fades, one thing becomes crystal clear: the casual fan’s perception of NBA greatness is vastly different from the reality inside the locker room. While media analysts try to claim that a lack of back-to-back dynasties dilutes the weight of a ring, the reality of today’s balanced league means teams have to earn it out of the mud more than ever.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks didn’t lift a participation trophy in Lower Manhattan—they shattered the superteam blueprint. And as Patrick Beverley reminds us, whether you are trying to lock down Kevin Durant with “delusional confidence” or navigating the grueling, militant structure of European ball, the human nature of the game will always override the numbers on a spreadsheet. In an era where the crown changes hands every year, the real legends aren’t the ones waiting for a perfect dynasty to join—they’re the ones with the dog mentality to go out and take it.