Pacers Fans Revel as Patrick Beverley’s NBA Hopes Fade After Controversial Exit

In May 2024, Patrick Beverley, then a Milwaukee Bucks guard, sparked outrage among Indiana Pacers fans by throwing a basketball at them during a heated Game 6 loss in the first round of the NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The incident, followed by a four-game suspension and Beverley’s subsequent failure to secure an NBA contract, marked a turning point in his career. As reported by Sporting News in February 2025, Beverley’s tenure with Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Premier League ended abruptly due to a suspension for mocking his coach on social media, leaving the 37-year-old Chicago native scrambling to return to the NBA. With Beverley’s fall continuing and the Pacers’ young core thriving despite challenges, fans in Indianapolis are getting the last laugh. This article delves into Beverley’s decline, the Pacers’ resurgence, the 2024 incident’s fallout, and why Indiana supporters are savoring this moment.

The Infamous Incident: Beverley vs. Pacers Fans

On May 2, 2024, the Pacers clinched a 120-98 victory over the Bucks in Game 6, eliminating Milwaukee in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With 2:32 remaining, Patrick Beverley, frustrated by the blowout, threw a basketball into the stands, striking a fan behind the Bucks’ bench, per ESPN. Moments later, he threw it again at another fan, escalating tensions. Post-game, Beverley compounded the controversy by refusing to answer a question from ESPN reporter Malinda Adams, citing her lack of subscription to his podcast, Pat Bev Pod, per Sports Illustrated. The NBA swiftly issued a four-game suspension for both actions, with Commissioner Adam Silver stating, “Patrick Beverley’s behavior was unacceptable and detrimental to the league” (NBA.com).

The incident, captured on video and widely shared on X, ignited fury among Pacers fans. @PacersPride tweeted, “Beverley disrespected our city. Good luck finding a team now,” while @IndyHoopsFan called it “a low point for a guy who’s all talk.” Beverley’s actions, seen as unprofessional, tarnished his reputation as a gritty, fan-favorite veteran, per ClutchPoints. His subsequent inability to secure an NBA contract for the 2024-25 season, as reported by fadeawayworld.net, marked the beginning of his career’s downward spiral.

Beverley’s Overseas Stint and Departure

Unable to find an NBA home after his Bucks tenure, Beverley signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Premier League on July 16, 2024, per totalprosports.com. The move followed a 12-year NBA career across seven teams, including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Milwaukee Bucks, where he averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 666 games, per clutchpoints.com. In Israel, Beverley averaged 10.05 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, showing flashes of his defensive tenacity, per profootballnetwork.com. However, his tenure ended in February 2025 after he mocked head coach Dimitris Itoudis on social media, leading to a suspension and mutual contract termination, per basketballsphere.com.

Beverley’s X post on February 13, 2025, expressed gratitude: “Tel Aviv was great. fans were great. coach was great. Israel was great🙏🏾 had so much fun here. thanks for everything. yalla Hapoel” (@patbev21). Despite the amicable tone, his exit fueled skepticism about his NBA return, with NBACentral tweeting, “Pat Bev is officially a free agent. The return? 👀” Critics, including Deadspin, argued his off-court antics and age (37) make him a risky signing, while Pacers fans on X, like @PacersFanatic, gloated, “Beverley’s fall continues, and we’re here for it.”

The Pacers’ Resurgence and Fan Vindication

While Beverley struggles, the Pacers are riding high after a 2024-25 season that saw them reach Game 7 of the NBA Finals, per ESPN. Despite losing Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles and Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency, Indiana’s young core—Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Johnny Furphy, and Isaiah Jackson—offers hope for 2025-26, per FanSided. Siakam’s Eastern Conference Finals MVP performance (22.8 points, 8.8 rebounds) and Nembhard’s clutch Finals play (14.6 points, 6.0 assists) highlight their potential, per 8points9seconds.com. ESPN projects a 40-42 record, but the Pacers’ up-tempo offense (third in points at 120.5) and Carlisle’s coaching keep them competitive, per NBA.com.

Pacers fans, still stung by Beverley’s actions, see his struggles as poetic justice. The 2024 incident galvanized the fanbase, with Gainbridge Fieldhouse becoming a fortress, per IndyStar. X posts like @IndySportsFan’s, “Beverley threw at us, now he’s out of the league. Pacers fans stay winning,” reflect the sentiment. The November 3, 2025, matchup against Milwaukee, featuring Turner, offers a chance to face Beverley’s former team, amplifying fan excitement, per ClutchPoints.

Beverley’s NBA Career and Decline

Beverley’s 12-year NBA journey was defined by tenacity. A three-time All-Defensive Team member, he averaged 1.1 steals and 3.4 assists, earning a reputation as a lockdown guard, per Basketball-Reference. His 2023-24 season, split between Philadelphia and Milwaukee, saw him average 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, with a career-high 36.1% from three, per clutchpoints.com. However, his Game 6 antics and post-game behavior shifted focus to his temperament, per Sports Illustrated.

After the suspension, Beverley’s free agency in 2024-25 yielded no offers, with fadeawayworld.net citing his age and off-court issues. His move to Israel was seen as a last resort, but his February 2025 exit from Hapoel Tel Aviv, following a social media spat, further damaged his stock, per basketballsphere.com. Beverley’s May 17, 2025, podcast comments on Pat Bev Pod expressed hope: “I’m making my entrance back to the NBA next year… Just invite me to training camp, I’ll do the rest” (clutchpoints.com). Yet, The Athletic reported that GMs are wary, with his four-game suspension and history of controversies—like a 2021 push on Chris Paul—deterring teams.

Why Beverley’s Return Faces Hurdles

Beverley’s path back to the NBA is fraught with challenges:

1. Age and Declining Skills: At 37, Beverley’s athleticism has waned, with his 2023-24 defensive rating (112.3) a career-worst, per NBA.com. Younger guards like Nembhard outperform him, per ESPN.
2. Off-Court Baggage: The 2024 fan incident, podcast controversy, and Israel suspension paint Beverley as a liability, per Deadspin. Teams prioritize locker-room harmony, per HoopsHype.
3. Limited Market: With teams favoring youth, Beverley’s $3-5 million veteran minimum offers are scarce, per CBS Sports. Potential fits like Miami or Houston may pass, per sportskeeda.com.
4. Pacers’ Strength: Indiana’s depth, with Mathurin and Furphy emerging, reduces the need for a player like Beverley, whose 6.0 points in 2023-24 pale against their upside, per FanSided.

Sporting News noted, “Beverley’s fall continues, and it seems like things may not come to fruition for him,” as his NBA hopes dim.

The Pacers’ 2025-26 Outlook

Despite challenges, the Pacers remain a compelling story. Siakam’s projected All-Star nod in the NBA’s new USA vs. World format, per The Athletic, and Nembhard’s two-way prowess (14.9 points, 5.7 assists) anchor the team, per IndyStar. Mathurin’s make-or-break season and Furphy’s rising potential add intrigue, per 8points9seconds.com. The center crisis—relying on Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, and James Wiseman—remains a concern, but Jackson’s $21 million extension could prove shrewd if he breaks out, per CBS Sports. FanSided called 2025-26 a “gap year” to evaluate youth, with a play-in berth possible.

The November 3, 2025, game against Milwaukee, where Turner now plays, will rekindle memories of Beverley’s incident, per ClutchPoints. Pacers fans, energized by their team’s resilience, are poised to taunt Beverley’s absence, with @PacersFan4Life tweeting, “No Beverley, no problem. We’re still here, Pat.”

Fan and Media Reactions

Pacers fans have embraced Beverley’s struggles as vindication. @IndyPacerNation tweeted, “Beverley threw at us, now he’s begging for a camp invite. Karma’s real ” @HoopsIndy added, “Pacers fans get the last laugh while Pat Bev’s out here lost.” Media outlets echo the sentiment. IndyStar called the 2024 incident a “turning point” for fan unity, while Sporting News noted, “Pacers fans are savoring Beverley’s fall.” 8points9seconds.com praised Indiana’s young core, stating, “While Beverley fades, the Pacers’ future shines.”

Beverley’s Legacy and Pacers’ Triumph

Beverley’s legacy as a tenacious defender is undeniable, with three All-Defensive nods and a reputation for unsettling stars like Kevin Durant, per fadeawayworld.net. Yet, his off-court antics—culminating in the Pacers incident—have overshadowed his contributions, per The Athletic. His May 20, 2025, podcast plea for a training camp invite, per thecoldwire.com, underscores his desperation, but teams remain skeptical, per profootballnetwork.com.

Conversely, the Pacers’ 2024-25 Finals run, despite losing Haliburton and Turner, showcases their resilience, per ESPN. Siakam’s leadership, Nembhard’s clutch play, and Mathurin’s potential position Indiana for future success, per FanSided. Beverley’s absence from the NBA, contrasted with the Pacers’ bright outlook, fuels fan satisfaction, per IndyStar.

The Broader Context

The Pacers’ 2025-26 season, starting October 28, 2025, against Detroit, will test their depth, per NBA.com. The center crisis and Haliburton’s absence lower expectations, but Siakam’s All-Star trajectory and Jackson’s breakout potential offer hope, per CBS Sports. Beverley’s struggles, meanwhile, highlight the NBA’s shift toward younger, less controversial talent, per HoopsHype. His potential return, if any, may hinge on a minimum deal with a contender like Miami, but his 2024 incident with Pacers fans remains a stain, per ClutchPoints.

Conclusion

Pacers fans are getting the last laugh as Patrick Beverley’s career falters following his controversial actions in May 2024. His basketball-throwing incident at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, followed by a four-game suspension and failure to secure an NBA contract, marked the start of his decline, per ESPN. His brief stint with Hapoel Tel Aviv, ending in a February 2025 suspension, further dimmed his prospects, per basketballsphere.com. Meanwhile, the Pacers, buoyed by Siakam, Nembhard, Mathurin, Furphy, and Jackson, remain a promising squad despite a challenging 2025-26 season, per FanSided. As Beverley pleads for an NBA return, per clutchpoints.com, Indiana’s fans revel in their team’s resilience and bright future, savoring the irony of his fall against their continued rise.