Patrick Beverley has gotten the latest laugh.
In November 2019, Russell Westbrook, then a member of the Houston Rockets, told media members Beverley wasn’t the pesky defender many fans perceived him to be.
“Pat Bev trick y’all, man, like he plays defense,” Westbrook said before laughing. “He don’t guard nobody, man, just running around. Doing nothing, man. As you’ve seen what happened [tonight].”
Westbrook was referring to James Harden scoring 47 points with Beverley guarding him that night.
“All that commotion to get 47,” Westbrook said, before smiling again.
Beverley is a three-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. The 2009 second-round pick has remained in the league by developing the reputation of an intense hustle player. He talks trash to opponents until he gets under their skin.
Westbrook’s comments went viral and became a meme brought up every time Beverley had a bad game for the past two and a half years.
Now, the tables have turned.
Westbrook, a former NBA MVP, has struggled this season with the losing Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook has often become one of the team’s scapegoats publicly for his missed mid-range jumpers and erratic offensive turnovers. On Feb. 10, the NBA trade deadline where Westbrook is one of the main players looped in rumors, Beverley left a simple tweet to start the day.
“I remember when somebody said all I do is run around and I trick y’all,” Beverley tweeted before adding a laughing emoji. “Well, my boy is The Real Magician this year.”
I remember when somebody said all I do is run around and I trick y’all 😂 well my boy is The Real Magician this year.
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) February 10, 2022
Beverley is now with the Minnesota Timberwolves where he averages 8.9 points, five assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. Westbrook averages 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists for the Lakers.
