Patrick Beverley Done In NBA, Announces New Contract Overseas


Patrick Beverley's days in the NBA have come to an end. He announced on his own podcast that he has decided to sign with Hapoel Tel Aviv to play in Israel, on a two-year deal worth $4 million.

The 36-year-old was unable to land a contract offer with an NBA team worth anything more than the veteran's minimum, coming off a one-year, $3 million contract signed last summer with the Philadelphia 76ers (which is about the vet's minimum). He wound up finishing up the year with the Milwaukee Bucks. In total, he averaged six points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while shooting 36% on threes.

He calls his new deal in Israel "historic." "They gave me everything I asked for," Beverley said. "I couldn’t refuse.” In addition to his salary, Pat Bev says that the Hapoel Tel Aviv club is also willing to promote his podcast and sell merchandise.

Beverley actually began his professional basketball career playing overseas, first in Ukraine and then Greece, before coming to the NBA for the last 12 seasons.

The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets are each said to have offered Beverley the vet's minimum for the coming season, but he declined, and is excited about his new venture in Israel. 

Beverley's NBA days ended in controversy, as he was suspended four games (which he will now avoid if he doesn't return) after throwing a basketball at fans sitting courtside in Indiana in the Bucks' Game 6 elimination at the hands of the Pacers, and refusing to answer a reporter's questions afterwards because she didn't subscribe to his podcast. 

In his 12 NBA seasons, Beverley averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while hitting on 37% of his shots from long range.

Photo: © Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports