If Russell Westbrook were to name his main nemesis in the NBA it would have to be Patrick Beverley. The two have a well-known history of animus toward one another dating back to the 2013 playoffs where Pat Bev injured Westbrook.
Fast forward to 2022 and there's no love lost between the two. For Pat Bev, the 2021-22 season is a revelatory campaign about Westbrook and his actual value on the court. He spoke with JJ Redick on The Old Man And The Three podcast about how this season has seen a shift in the narrative about him that Westbrook helped create due in large part to Russ's lackluster play this year.
“I call that perfect timing, divine timing,” Beverley said. “You know people looked at me differently? People around the NBA, coaches, players, like after that people were just taking the ball just going at me. I’m like, ‘What the f—?’ All because of what one person said, and that’s how the media is. If one person says one thing, that’s how they take it. And they take it just for that. People really looked at it like, ‘Yeah, maybe this motherf—er don’t play defense. The only thing he does is run around.’ So, obviously, I had one bad game. ‘Oh Russ was right. I knew this motherf—–; the only thing he did is run around and stuff like that.’ You know, it’s no fun when the rabbit gots the gun now.”
Source: youtube.com
