Patrick Beverley criticizes NBA for not protecting players from fan abuse

Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley received a $25,000 fine stemming from an incident with an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, and he defended his conduct on Sunday.

Speaking to the media, Beverley blamed the NBA for failing to protect players from overly aggressive fans and said he was simply standing up for himself where the league would not.

“If the NBA won’t or help protect players in situations with fans, I’m okay with the hazing, I’m okay with the boos, I’m okay with the other fans rooting for their team but I’m not okay with the blatant disrespect,” Beverley said, via ESPN’s Calvin Watkins. “When I’m on the ground, after a foul, and a fan yelling after me, ‘FU Patrick Beverley, FU Patrick Beverley, FU Patrick Beverley’, waving a clapper in my face, I’m not comfortable with that. So if the NBA won’t protect the players in that manner, I feel the need as a man, as a grown man who has children, who has morals, stand up for the right thing.

“I have to protect myself and I felt like I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. I felt like I addressed him and (said), ‘At the end of the day this is a basketball game this is a game, I’m a grown man, your a grown man, let’s keep it professional.’ Just like that. There’s no need for plant disrespect, and that’s all.”

Beverley got into an altercation with a Thunder fan after the final whistle on Friday. He clearly feels he was justified in his conduct, but he’ll be a bit lighter in the wallet either way.