Patrick Beverley may not be the best player on the team, but he is clearly one of the most important ones.
Truly the heart and soul of the “Clamp City” LA Clippers, Beverley is a two-time All-Defensive point guard with unlimited hustle and a passion for winning. There are few others like him in the league, and far more who revere him for his tenacious style of play.
Beverley was averaging a career-high 12.2 points per game last season before he went down in early November with a knee injury. He came back towards the end of the month in a game against the New York Knicks, but that was the last we saw of him for the season.
Beverley required season-ending knee surgery after playing in just 11 games, from which he fully recovered just last month. In the preseason, he showed no signs of pain, and didn’t appear to be setback from the surgery, either. He was his normal self, which is exactly what the Clippers need from him.
For Beverley to remain healthy this season would be a blessing for Los Angeles. Even though he’s arguably the most replaceable player among the starting five given the team’s extreme guard depth, his attitude is something that can’t be outdone, and his motivation will be crucial in getting the Clippers to the playoffs.
Alongside a healthy Bradley, Beverley will finally have a chance to lead what could potentially be the league’s best defensive team.