Despite his controversies, there is no argument that Patrick Beverley is regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. His identity as a on-ball pest evolved as he continued to defend the game's biggest stars, to varying degrees of success.
Speaking on the "Out The Mud" podcast, Beverley explained how he approached defending superstars , citing Stephen Curry as an example. He explained that he always expected Curry to score at least 25 points every time they met. The only thing he wanted to control was the manner in which he was going to allow him to get it.
"Not only did I become really good defensively on the basketball court, but intellectually I became a really good defender. I had to understand that no matter what, if we're on TV, Steph gon' finish with 25," Beverley shared .
It might seem strange for Beverley to admit letting Curry score 25 points at first, but he further explained that he wasn't going to deny the gravity that Steph has on the court, but rather, he will control how he'll allow those points to be scored.
"That's three different 25s. It's that 10 for 15 with two free throws, it's that six for 18 with a little bit more free throws and it's that nine for 19 with a lot of free throws," Bev explained. "I gotta figure out which one I want to give him tonight."
It's an unconventional method, but it is the reality of guarding superstars in the league. It is almost impossible to expect the likes of Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant just to have an off night.
That's what separates Beverley from other defenders. He stated that he had already studied how stars were going to score and chose, before games, which version of their 25 points he was willing to live with.
"It's coming, no matter what. And I use that dynamic with different players," he stated.
"If I'm on TV, okay, cool, they going to make sure the superstars get what they need to get. I got to just figure out what type of 25 or what type of 30 they gonna get," added Bveerley.
The reality is that there are different versions of a 25-point game. Some performances are otherworldly, in which players just shoot lights out, but others are rooted in their shots at the charity stripe.
Bev's defensive mindset allowed him to become one of the most tenacious defenders of his generation, earning multiple All-Defensive teams in his career as well as establishing a reputation for defending the league's most lethal scorers.
Beverley has always defended this philosophy and has actually integrated it with how officials treat some players. He controls what he can control, something that makes Bev one of the most unusual defenders, and also one of the most psychotic.
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For Beverley, who worked his way up to the NBA after years of playing overseas, he has an ingrained mindset of doing whatever it takes to survive. Even when everyone valued him as a ball pest, he still went out of his way to do extra work, not only for himself but also for his teammates.
"I sent every teammate that I had for the last five years film on every single game we've played the night before," he said. "I'm psychotic about this defense s—t. It hurts my soul when people don't think I don't lock up."
What many fans overlook in Beverley's career is his longevity and effectiveness as it progressed. He left the NBA in 2024, but not before making a name on teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers , Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets .
Perhaps the best evidence of Beverley's impact was his resume. He wasn't a superstar by any means, but he would commit to making the opponents' best player as uncomfortable as possible. Despite the memes surrounding hair reputation, there is no denying what Pat Bev did to the game's best scorers.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
