The depleted Los Angeles Clippers were beaten up by the Minnesota Timberwolves in what was a difficult loss to stomach. The defeat, which came about as a result of losing both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, may have been made even worse due to the fact that former Clippers stalwart Patrick Beverley was on the other side.
While Leonard and George soaked up most of the attention in LA, Beverley was an integral part of some quality Clippers teams. His ferocious perimeter defense and surprising passing skills made him one of the more integral pieces on this squad for a large chunk of his career.
Beverley may be on a team that isn’t going to compete for a championship in Minnesota, but he has brought that same style of play and leadership to the Wolves, and he’s helped them contend for a play-in spot. Beverley feels like his contributions are finally getting appreciated.
Beverley claimed that he is “very underappreciated,” hinting that when you play alongside superstars like Leonard and George, becoming a reliable role player could get overshadowed. Luckily, he found a home for his talents in Minnesota. Apparently, he is properly valued over there.
"[What I do] is kind of overlooked. Especially when you have people like Kawhi & PG, who take a lot of credit for everything, but it's always when I go to the other team, that's when you see my work & how the team is now. What I do is very underappreciated."
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 4, 2022
- Patrick Beverley pic.twitter.com/p28macZPO1
Patrick Beverley didn’t feel appreciated on the Los Angeles Clippers.
Beverley is averaging 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game with Minnesota, which are right on par with his career averages. He’s also providing that blend of aggression and tenacity that made him a beloved figure in LA during his time in red and blue.
Beverley’s presence is sorely missed on this current squad. While Eric Bledsoe has stepped up lately, he put forth a major dud against the Wolves. Reggie Jackson is trying everything he can, but he is often unable to replicate what Beverley brings to the table on defense.
Patrick Beverley when asked if he feels that what he brought to the Clippers wasn't always appreciated: pic.twitter.com/6q2o9ckBDy
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) January 4, 2022
Beverley might be a bit perturbed about the fact that what he brought to the table was constantly minimized due to the star power he played alongside. Every contending team needs someone with his experience and tenacity on the defensive, and his ability to cause havoc kept them in some games they had no business winning.
Traded almost straight-up for Bledsoe, Beverley has been the better all-around performer so far this season, all while helping raise the floor of a Minnesota team that finally has a foundation in place after years of futility. LA might have an extra win or two on the schedule if they’d kept him in town.
LA Clippers: 3 greatest memories for Clips in 2021
Despite the start of this 2021-2022 season not going the best for the LA Clippers, there were so many great memories to reflect on for the franchise.