Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook seem to have turned their past troubles into a unique understanding, according to a new interview between Beverley and comedian Kevin Hart.
Now teammates at the Lakers, Beverley and Westbrook were butting heads when they were with the Rockets and Thunder, respectively, when the latter tore his meniscus in 2013 when Beverley went for a steal when Westbrook dribbled onto the bench before a time-out.
The Houston guard at the time tried the same tactic a year later, and while Westbrook wasn’t hurt, he was livid and the couple had to be separated.
Beverley and Kevin Hart touched on a variety of topics in the amusing interview
Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley have formed an unlikely friendship with the Lakers
Unlikely, the two are now friends in the latter stages of their careers, and she is had dinner together on Christmas Eve.
“I can tell him things other people can’t,” Beverley told Hart on Cold as Balls.
“And that’s the beauty of having two guys, that … if you only have two Aries, you can only understand things from the other Aries,” he said, describing the pair’s shared tenacity.
Beverley, a three-time all-defense nod, also addressed other issues in the interview, calling himself, Marcus Smart and Jrue Holiday the only good defensive point guards in the league.
Beverley described himself as one of the few good defensive point guards in the league
Hart also brought up Heat’s Kyle Lowry in that discussion, which Beverley disagreed with.
“He’s defending OK,” he said. “You’re only saying that because he’s from Philly [like Hart]’ Beverley claimed, but also contradicted the notion that Lowry was a ‘strong guard’.
Beverley was also reluctant to give credit to the Nets’ Ben Simmons, who plays much larger backcourt than most of his peers.
“He’s 6ft 9, he better be [a good defender]! He can’t shoot, he should be better!’
Beverley also referenced his relationship — or lack thereof — with Chris Paul.
The pair were on opposite sides of the deal package that sent Paul to Houston (and Beverley to the Clippers), and Beverley said Paul “couldn’t protect anyone” after the Suns. were eliminated from the postseason last year.
While the Lakers guard acknowledged there was a mutual respect between the two, who have had some lively fights over the years, he had some combative words for him when speaking to Hart.
“Every time I see Chris Paul, it’s smoke. But that comes from all those things and all the success that he’s had in his basketball career,” he said.
Chris Paul and Beverly have put up some fierce battles in 21 games against each other
“From now until you retire, or until I retire, or until my bones jump out of my f*** knees, I’m going to haunt you every time until we’re done.”
Finally, Beverley touched on the emotions surrounding his departure from the Clippers last year.
While he was part of the team that reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2020-21 season, Beverley said he was offered around “five or six million dollars” by the organization — which he says was below his market value.
“I felt like it was the ultimate spit on my face as I literally switched this whole organization and went to the Western Conference Finals. I didn’t think I got the fair end of the stick,” he said.
Beverley helped the Timberwolves reach the playoffs against the Clippers last year
Less than a year later, Beverley had a chance for revenge when his Timberwolves played the Clippers in the postseason play-in – and defeated them.
After a 109-104 loss to the Wolves, the Clippers lost 105-101 to the Pelicans and missed the playoffs.
“It’s like a league game for us when we even play the Clippers in the play-in.”
Beverley is averaging 5.7 points in 26.9 minutes per game for the Lakers this season.
You can now watch all episodes of Season 7 of Cold As Balls on the LOL Network YouTube channel. Previous guests this season include Allen Iverson, Dwight Howard, Austin Ekeler, John Wall and Kelsey Plum.