I think it’s safe to say that Patrick Beverley is still holding a grudge.
The Los Angeles Lakers sent the veteran guard to the Orlando Magic in exchange for big man Mo Bamba over this season’s trade deadline. Beverley went on to reach a buyout with the franchise and sign with the Chicago Bulls. Now, he’s set to play his former team two over the next three days.
Ahead of the first matchup on Sunday afternoon, Beverley took to social media with some fighting words:
Look, is it possible Beverley is just best friends with the Charmin Bear and promoting his pal’s product? I suppose. But my best guess is that he’s calling the state of California – and, more specifically, the Lakers – “soft.”
This also isn’t the first time he’s clapped back at the franchise since his trade. On his podcast, the Pat Bev Show, Beverley said that he looked forward to trying to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs in these two games. Anthony Davis seemingly wished him luck when told that Beverley said just that.
I guess we’ll see who comes out on top in just a couple of hours.
UPDATE (6:30)
Patrick Beverley was asked about his Charmin post after the Bulls’ 118-108 win over the Lakers, and he didn’t bite. According to the Bulls’ veteran point guard, the post was nothing more than a coincidence.
“I got paid a ton of money to post something. And I was late posting it like a week ago, and I didn’t want the window to close,” Beverley said. “Good time, bad time, whatever the f***. I’m not out here to troll anybody. I’m out here to be a basketball player … I can’t even say it was talk. Great timing. I’m pretty sure Charmin enjoyed it a lot. I missed the window like two weeks to post it.”
Hmmm. I’ll give it to Beverley, he sure sounded genuine about this being nothing more than a brand deal. Regardless, though, it sure ended up as one heck of a well-timed post!
You can see Bev’s full interview courtesy of The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry below: