Chicago Tribune article about Beverley Chicago Tribune has an article on Beverley, he is a Chicago native. His story is quite inspiring. http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-73919679/ Beverley reaches lifelong goal, signing NBA contract By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter This one is for the survivors. It's one of those tales that is nice to trot out occasionally as educational, bursting with lessons of perseverance and maturity that often come in short supply in today's instant gratification society. Patrick Beverley, 24, has reached his lifelong goal of making the NBA, having signed a contract with the Rockets. It will become official when clearance from FIBA, the governing body of international basketball, releases the Marshall High product from his contract with Spartak St. Petersburg in Russia. Don't worry. After all he has endured, Beverley can wait a day or so. "Everything happened the way it's supposed to happen," an upbeat Beverley said by phone from Houston. That includes — deep breath here — meeting his biological father just once. Losing the man who raised him and who Beverley called his father to, in Beverley's words, "the streets and gangs and drugs of Chicago" when Beverley was in the eighth grade. Leaving his scholarship at Arkansas after his sophomore season in 2008 and ultimately admitting he turned in a paper authored by someone else. Playing for and learning from respected former college and NBA assistant coach Bob Donewald in the Ukraine; getting drafted in the second round by the Lakers in 2009; getting traded and ultimately cut by the Heat despite a strong performance in the 2010 summer league; not playing for a loaded Olympiakos team in Greece. Earning EuroCup MVP honors for Spartak St. Petersburg in 2012; working out and impressing the Bulls during last summer's summer league minicamp; heading back to Russia, determined to improve his point guard skills because teams kept labeling him a shooting guard in a 6-foot-2 point guard body. Never once did Beverley change his goal. "My mom and I were talking about this the other day. I told her if I had an opportunity, I wouldn't change any of my experience," Beverley said. "I'm very mature for my age. I've seen the world. I've played with great players. I've learned a lot. I'm just getting started now. And now the hard work really begins." Beverley admits to experiencing some inevitable low points. The Heat cutting him stung deeply. But any time he needed support, he looked to the three women who raised him — his mother, Lisa, his aunt, Karyn McCullough, and his grandmother, Celeste Beverley. Lisa lived with Patrick in the Ukraine, their first trip overseas. They tried to adjust to a new country, different language, an apartment that didn't always have adequate heat or a working TV. "That experience was tough," Lisa said by phone of the Ukraine. "But he was determined and focused to stay and make himself better. He was willing to go through whatever he had to at that point." The down moments are when Lisa would remind her only son, "you get out of life what you put in." Beverley is the same age as Derrick Rose. He knows him well, friendly rivals from their Public League days at Marshall and Simeon. Rose is the youngest most valuable player in NBA history. Who's to say what Beverley has accomplished isn't powerful as well? "No matter what, I wanted to play in the NBA," Beverley said. "I was very blessed to play with good teams overseas and this definitely was a process to prepare me. But this is my goal. I'm definitely going to take advantage of this opportunity." Three years ago, Lisa Beverley finally tired of the violence on Chicago's West Side. She knew she wanted to move South, couldn't decide between Atlanta or Houston. With a family member and close friend in Houston, she settled in Texas. Now, so has her son, who helped his mom open a nail salon studio with the money he made playing basketball overseas. You can't make this stuff up. "Words cannot express how proud I am," Lisa said. "I'm so happy for him. He had to go through what he went through to become a better man and bigger person. And he did so with determination and great focus. It's great to see your child's dream come true."
nice read, seems like fate for him to come to the city, his mom moved to. I hope he does well and play solid although our PG rotation is a bit set in stone for now
Hope all of you watch a young Patrick in "Hoop Reality" on youtube. Moved me to tears. Must have been heart-breaking to lose his college playing career for admitting to having his paper written by someone else. The only one on the team to admit it. He took the long way but he's finally signed in the NBA, and I do hope he sticks. Do the Rockets target character guys and guys with inspirational stories?
Beverley's biggest weakness was that he couldn't shoot. Judging from his stats, he figured how to this last season which is why Morey is taking a chance on him.
Does anyone know if Beverley is a better overall pg than Douglas? According to what you know, will Beverley be better coming off the bench for the Rockets than TD?
Damn, I just edited the roster(s) for my new Association on 2k13 and I forgot to add Beverley. Is he already on the FA list or is he going to be added for the new update? Knowing 2k's history, I doubt they would add someone like him. Anyone willing to make him and add him to share? (PS3)
Good lord no. But the Rockets aren't re-signing Douglas in the offseason. So he is the hopeful eventual replacement. Maybe next year, maybe at the deadline.
Yeah, I think that while TD has been more valuable than others expect, I don't think Morey will keep him long term. Morey seems to want a young guy than TD. TD is in his 4th year and is 26 yrs old. Morey wants young guys with high upside, and I think TD is pretty near his ceiling. Patrick Beverley is 24 and hasn't had a chance to develop in the NBA yet, so he is younger and has more upside. I think he's the slated replacement for Toney Douglas. Toney Douglas will either be dealt in a trade before the Feb. Deadline, kept for the playoff push and released in the off-season, or re-signed to a 1 yr contract (with possibly another year team option) for use as an expiring contract/trade-bait next year if Patrick Beverley isn't able to outplay him and there's nothing better on the horizon.
I've done a 180 on TD. I thought "WTF?" early on, but now consider him valuable for his D and scoring. Wouldn't mind keeping him.
The way TD is playing, he's gonna ask for multi year deal with pretty good salary in offseason. Morey wouldn't be able to accept that with a contract year performance, so Beverly comes in as insurance. if his 3pt shooting is not a fluke this year, Beverly would be a very good pickup.
Yes, he's currently valuable to the team due to the need he fills in the roster, and I think he's a good guy. But I don't think he fits Morey's model going forward. Morey is stocking up on young guys with upside, the younger the better, in hopes that some of them will develop into either nice trade assets or good pieces for building. With every move, he's been trying to get younger, instead of locking into roleplayers who are older or have nearly reached their ceiling. The average age of the current team is 23 with less than 2 years in the league. Compared to that, TD is kind of old at 26 and has used up most of his potential after 4 yrs in the league. I like TD, but I don't think Morey sees him as a long term solution, or with the potential to be one (and potential is what Morey is investing in with all the youth with upside), for a championship team. If the player is not someone that you think would be part of a championship team, or is not a player who you think can develop into such a piece, then I think Morey would have no qualms about trading him or cutting him in favor of another young guy who has the possibility. TD is currently useful on the team and he seems like a good locker room guy, but his age and years in the NBA means he's not someone that Morey wants to hold onto for a Championship.
I think having a back up PG who is a vet can be a good thing. Games in which Lin will struggle..it is nice being able to bring in an experienced vet who can hold his own and man the team. That being said I don't know if TD is the guy depending on how much salary he wants. I wouldn't mind paying him at MAX..a 3yr/11mil deal.
Beverley isn't that good of a long range shooter. His offense is mainly open court scoring, close and mid range jumpers, layups, and dunking. With that being said, he's always had NBA 3 point range. He can hit that shot, but he does not qualify as a good long range shooter IMO. He would hit a couple 3s, then air ball one, and almost air ball another one.
