12-year NBA vet Patrick Beverley is taking his talents overseas to play in the Israeli Premier Basketball League, as he will join Hapoel Tel Aviv BC this upcoming season.
PATRICK BEVERLEY LANDS IN ISRAEL!🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
Welcome! pic.twitter.com/MIyLYHoDRg
— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) August 19, 2024
Fans greeted Beverley at the Tel Aviv airport and celebrated his arrival, as many also noted that he appears to be nervous. Furthermore, Pat Bev pointed out himself that with the conflict happening in the Middle East, he may be on edge.
“If a bomb goes off, I’m gone.”
- Patrick Beverley on playing in Israel
(Via @PatBevPod ) pic.twitter.com/HxKpfkea7P
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 12, 2024
To point out, Beverley has played for seven teams throughout his NBA career, averaging 8.3 points (41.3% FG; 37.1% 3PT), 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 26.6 minutes per game.
Breaking: Patrick Beverley plans to sign with Israeli basketball club Hapoel Tel Aviv BC, he announced via the Pat Bev Pod. pic.twitter.com/mhD0LieUEv
— ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2024
To note, Beverley had opportunities to sign with an NBA team, most likely for the veteran minimum, however, he ultimately decided he'd rather play in the Israeli league, signing a two-year, $4 million deal.
While on his podcast (Bat Bev Pod), the 36-year-old gave more insight into the reason on why he decided to leave the NBA to play in Israel.
"If someone wants to pay you to play basketball at a high level, man, go hoop. I'm not about to be at home in September, October posting workout videos."
Give Pat Bev the rock… watch him work🙏 it’s a fresh start! pic.twitter.com/jlvwd6iH01
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) August 7, 2024
That is to say, even if Pat Bev did decide to return to the NBA, he would have had to serve a four-game suspension following an incident where he threw a basketball at a fan during a Game 6 season-eliminating loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Patrick Beverley avoided his suspension by signing with Israel 🤣pic.twitter.com/2UI9wySd6m
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) July 16, 2024
In view of Beverley's professional basketball career, he is no stranger to playing overseas, as he previously played in Ukraine, Russia, and Greece for the Olympiacos, before signing with the Rockets in the middle of the 2013 NBA season.
Related: Police Are Investigating Patrick Beverley's Throwing Ball At Fan Incident
