Lakers’ Patrick Beverley would shove Suns’ Deandre Ayton all over again

Phoenix Suns fans were given yet another reason to dislike Patrick Beverley when the Los Angeles Lakers guard shoved big man Deandre Ayton in the back just over a week ago.

Then came Wednesday, when Beverley took things a step further when discussing the incident that resulted in a three-game suspension for the guard.

On his self-titled Pat Bev Pod, Beverley made it known that he has no regrets for his actions.

In fact, he would do it all over again.

“(Expletive) that, (expletive) that,” Beverley said. “(Expletive) him. We not going for that (expletive). … I’m team, team. Ask people that’s played with me. Ask superstars that’s played with me. That’s the reason why guys want me on their team.

“Very unfortunate situation (that it was nationally televised). And if I could play it back again, I would do the exact same thing.”

Beverley didn’t stop there, either, explaining the build up around the incident.

“It kicked off (at tip-off),” Beverley said. “I shake everybody’s hand. I put my hand on Deandre Ayton’s hand and he don’t shake my hand. So, something was brewing there from the beginning.”

The cold shoulder from Ayton possibly stems from one of Beverley’s previous antics against a Sun. As a member of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2021 playoff run, Beverley struck Phoenix guard Chris Paul from the back and had to sit out the first game of the 2021-22 season.

The most recent incident in question came with just 3:55 left to play in the matchup between the Suns and Lakers. After Devin Booker was called for a foul on Lakers guard Austin Reaves that ended up being a flagrant-1 after review, Beverley came from the other side of the court to shove Ayton.

The guard took exception to the way Booker and Ayton were standing over his teammate and felt officials didn’t step in quick enough.

“I told them, ‘Y’all could have stopped that,'” Beverley said. “‘Y’all seen what the (expletive) was going on. … Y’all could have stopped that.’ You shouldn’t have to police yourselves on the basketball court. Our job is to play basketball, but (expletive) it, they took too long.

“That situation shouldn’t have happened,” the guard added. “I’m not going to get beefing with refs and all that, because they have a hard ass job, but the referees could have controlled that. I know if it’s … Steph Curry on the ground and I step over him like that, guys are coming from everywhere to separate us. For certain people, I feel like the security alert is higher. … They just let it go and I don’t know why.”

Follow @AZSports