Report: ESPN bans Patrick Beverley over reporter fiasco

Nov 2, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Patrick Beverley (22) applauds the fans during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley has reportedly become persona non grata at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

Beverley drew the ire of ESPN employees everywhere for his disrespectful treatment of veteran ESPN producer Malinda Adams.

Adams was one of several media members trying to interview Beverley following his team’s first-round exit in Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

When Beverley found out that Adams was not subscribed to his podcast, he refused to take questions from her. Beverley even pushed her microphone aside and eventually asked her to leave the media scrum (video here).

Adams has since received an apology from both Beverley and the Bucks organization. However, Pat Bev’s apology wasn’t enough to salvage his reputation with ESPN.

The sports media company has banned Beverley from appearing on the network’s shows, according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. Beverley had previously made guest appearances on ESPN shows “Get Up” and “First Take.”

It’s ironic that Beverley’s desire to grow his media presence was what fueled his incident with Adams in the first place. Beverley’s unsavory tactic to promote his podcast ultimately led him to be blacklisted by one of the biggest sports media companies in the world.

Beverley’s interaction with Adams arguably wasn’t even his most deplorable exchange of the night. The Bucks guard may face a suspension for throwing a ball at a Pacers fan near the end of Game 6.