Sixers’ Patrick Beverley Brings Awareness to Defensive Value
This past offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers added Patrick Beverley after being linked to the veteran guard several times over the last few years.
Beverley joins the Sixers after they allowed Shake Milton to walk in free agency. Milton ended up joining the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year deal. Not long after losing Milton, the Sixers agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Beverley, bringing him in for the 2023-2024 run.
Beverley’s offensive value could help the Sixers’ second-team backcourt, but his defensive is where he can really make his impact in the newly implemented Nick Nurse system.
And in case anybody forgot how productive Beverley can be on the defensive end, especially when guarding an opposing team’s All-Star, the veteran took to Twitter to remind everybody what he brings to the table on the other end of the floor.
“No comment,” Beverley writes, as a quoted X post that brings awareness to some of his key defensive stats from last season.
From a solo standpoint, Beverley found success against the Portland version of Damian Lillard, Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving, Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, and Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox.
Of course, it’s only a handful of handpicked stats from a season in which Beverley appeared in 67 games across stints with two teams, but the veteran guard got his point across — he can defend.
The 35-year-old Beverley’s been in the league since 2012. After getting his start with the Houston Rockets in 2012, Beverley spent five seasons there before making his way to the Los Angeles Clippers via trade in 2017.
For the next four seasons, Beverley competed with the Clippers. During the 2021 offseason, Beverley found himself included in several trades. After the Clippers sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies, Beverley was flipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Following his lone season with the Timberwolves, Beverley joined the Los Angeles Lakers via trade. At the 2023 trade deadline, the veteran was dealt to a rebuilding Orlando Magic team. Eventually, a buyout ensued, and Beverley hit the open market, joining the Chicago Bulls.
During his stint with the Lakers, Beverley started in 45 games, averaging 27 minutes on the court. In Chicago, he started all 22 games he appeared in, with a slight increase in playing time.
With the Sixers, Beverley is likely to come off the bench, joining De’Anthony Melton if the roster remains the same. Soon, the Sixers will get a good look at what their revamped bench will look like with Beverley, as they are set to begin their preseason this weekend.
