OPINION

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By Sam Smith

Underrated. When it comes to the NBA, the names commonly associated with the term “underrated” in recent years might be Demar Derozen, Khris Middleton, Seth Curry, Malcolm Brogden, or Luke Kennard. But none of these are the truly most underrated NBA players of 2022.

No, the most underrated player in the NBA right now has been in the league for ten years and has averaged 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers a game over that timespan. In the last three seasons, he has been on three different teams.

At first glance of the stats above, you may think this guy seems like an extremely average NBA player. You may expect that he has been a bench player most of his career, perhaps with a few decent early years and then mostly mediocre performances in the seasons to come.

You would be wrong. This player is Patrick Beverley, a name known to most NBA fans as one of the league’s least-liked players; the troublemaker of the league.

Beverley was born on July 12, 1988. He played college basketball at the University of Arkansas before playing for a season overseas in Ukraine. In 2009, Beverley was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and was immediately traded to the Miami Heat. Before the season started, Beverly was cut from the Heat when final roster changes were made. He went back overseas to play in Greece and Russia before he was signed by the Houston Rockets in 2012.

Beverley, a veteran at the age of 34 who has consistently put up average numbers playing for average teams, is the league’s truly most underrated player.

The first thing you notice about Beverly when watching his game isn’t his actual playing. It’s not his shooting, dribbling, or even his passing or defense, which are where Beverly is considered the most impactful. It is his playing style and attitude.

Ryan Kostecka, a sports journalist in Salt Lake City, Utah, writes that “he’s one of the biggest antagonists in the league — a player who leaves it all on the court every time he plays the game.” Watching Beverley play for just one or two possessions, anyone will see exactly what Kostecka is talking about.

Beverley is constantly moving on both ends of the court. He is in constant motion on the offensive side, with or without the ball. When the ball is in his hands, he either makes decisive and quick dribbling decisions, or he passes the ball with speed and then immediately runs to the next spot. Off the ball, he is just as active, something very rare in today’s NBA. Off-ball picks, scrappy rebounds, or even just sprinting from sideline to sideline to give his teammates a new look or another option.

On defense, Beverly’s effort is even more evident. One word to describe him on the defensive end: chaos. His hands are never not swiping at the ball, waving in the attacker’s face, or checking the opposition. He sprints everywhere, and you won’t find him out of his athletic defensive position. Collegiate track athlete and football player Abdullah Karabatek (‘23) says,  “He’s a menace.”

In a league where critics often point to the lack of effort and apparent slacking, Beverly is a standout. Not only is his own energy and effort high, but “He’s [also] widely considered the heart and soul of every team he suits up for, somebody who plays with more passion and emotion than arguably anybody else in the NBA,” according to Kostecka. Every teammate benefits from Beverly’s personality and play style. He invigorates the team. Even if he’s not the star, he makes everyone else the star. 

Not only does he liven up the team, but Beverly can also get the crowd involved. He does this not only with his scrappy playing but also with his lively trash talk and petty jabs at the opponents. He is the bad boy of the league, and for good reason. If there is a fight to be had, Beverly picks it. He talks and talks. Claps in the face, slaps the floor, and even screams after a play all just to throw off his opponent. Perhaps his most valuable quality is his ability to throw an opponent off their game, causing them to miss shots or make silly and flustered errors.  Kostecka states that “His ability to ignite a crowd or take out another team’s star is the stuff of legends, as there’s nobody in the game Beverley will back down from.”

Beverly shoots at a clip of 41.1% from the field, and 37.4% from three. Solid percentages, but not a standout showing. Yet he is a standout. In any game, anyone can pick out Beverley as the fiercest, toughest, most annoying, and liveliest player. This brings more to the table than any stat could show, thus making him the most underrated player in the NBA.

All photos via Beverly’s instagram: @patbev21.