The NBA fined Beverley, who is 34 years old, three games on Thursday morning for pushing Ayton, who fell to the floor and was thrown out of a game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
Beverley got angry because he thought Ayton was standing over Austin Reaves, who was on the ground after Devin Booker fouled him. Booker got a flagrant foul, and Ayton got a technical, but Beverley paid the most.
After the game, Beverley could tell that there was an order in the locker room. He said he was not a good worker. “Could have done something else. I’m large. I’ll take what comes to me.”
This season, Beverley has started 14 of the 16 games the Lakers have played. He has averaged 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He will miss two Spurs games and a home game for the Pacers.
In a league statement, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars said that the length of the punishment was “in part based on Beverley’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.” In his 10 years as a player, he has been fined or suspended eight times.
Booker told Pat, “Dude, you need to stop pushing people in the back. Bring them in.” But Beverley’s support for Reaves was met with much more approval in the locker room of the Lakers.
Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and Reaves all say that Beverley was letting everyone know that he would have their backs. Even though Coach Darvin Ham said he wished his players would follow the rules.
He said it would be “awful” if none of the Lakers responded to the Suns’ taunting after they fouled Reaves. Reaves said that he hoped the argument would help the team get closer together.
“Just being around him, you know that they’ll have your back in any situation, on or off the court,” he said. “Little things like that create chemistry that you might not think is important, but it is.” If you go outside to play and see your brother giving it his all, you won’t want to do anything less.”
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