Patrick Beverley went off, recalling 94 basketball courts that LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had promised him. Upon his signing with the Clippers in 2019, Beverley was allegedly promised 94 charitable courts in his name, built by the Clippers organisation.
“I got promised 94 courts, Rone. Shook my hand, Rone. I’m shocked, I’m like, damn, 94 courts? The F***. So yeah, like, mo***f***** owes me courts bro!” the former Clippers player revealed on his podcast with co-host Adam Serrone or ‘Rone’.
The former NBA point guard was offered a higher three-year, $50 million contract from the Sacramento Kings. But Ballmer convinced Beverley that if he took the $40 million deal with the Clippers, the organization would provide a charitable contribution in Beverley’s name that would go towards building 94 courts.
“They finnessed me. Then I come back and ask for courts, every m****f***** goes silent. When I’m looking up at m*****f***** futuristic arena getting built right in front of me. Hey man, something is wrong, something’s wrong, something’s going on here, man, something’s fishy.” Beverley added.
He played 51 games for the Clippers that season, averaging 7.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Beverley also got them at least a steal every game he played, and a block every second game he played. The former guard went on to recall how he was treated once he went back, asking.
“I say that’s dope, man, that’s real as f***. Shakes my hand and everything. Then I go ask, ‘What’s up with those courts m*****f*****?’ Turn the other head. ‘What courts, m******f*****?… That’s some Clippers s***, man, that’s some Clippers s***,” Beverley exclaimed.
Beverley’s passionate recall of what allegedly happened between him and the Clippers owner becomes an integral point at this time, when he’s yet again under investigation for another alleged side deal gone wrong.
Kawhi Leonard has been at the center of the controversy, and questions have been raised about his involvement as well with the whole Aspiration fiasco. But for Patrick Beverley, his former teammate can do no wrong.
“There are a lot of things I stand for. But I won’t stand for anything bad about Kawhi, anything. We don’t know what’s going on.” Beverley noted.
But for Ballmer, Beverley had a different perspective. Not siding with any party on the matter, the 37-year-old did talk about how the situation looks from the outside.
“M****f***** trying to finesse, got caught man. Now you’ve got to believe innocent until proven guilty, right? Now them m****f***** got to do their jobs now. This is where you hire lawyers. This is where the money talks and all that,” Beverley added.
The situation has gotten even more complicated as an additional $10 million investment from Steve Ballmer has increased the list of questionable decisions from the Clippers owner. The league continues to probe and see any signs of foul play, but it has become an extremely tricky situation for Ballmer and even Leonard.
