Patrick Beverley Gets His First NBA Start

Former Razorback Patrick Beverley, playing for the Houston Rockets, got his first ever NBA start last night in Game Two of the NBA Playoff series against the Oklahoma Thunder.

Razorback fans will remember Beverley as a fierce competitor who played bigger than his 6’1″ frame would indicate, especially on the boards. Beverley played two seasons in Fayetteville (2006-08) before leaving early to play pro ball in Europe. ‘Academic issues’ played into his decision to leave. Probably.

During his two seasons at Arkansas, he was a team statistical leader in several categories and became both a Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy candidate. Didn’t win.

After a year or so in the Ukraine, he was drafted in the second round by the Lakers in 2009 and quickly traded to the Heat, for a future draft pick, cash and some of Kobe’s old sneakers, but opted to stay in Europe. He played the next few years in Greece and Russia on good teams that won stuff. In Greece and Russia.

Anyhow, the former Hog was playing in St. Petersburg, Russia, just four months ago when the Houston Rockets called him back to the by-God United States of America in January. He played as a back-up in 40+ games, earning increasing minutes as the season wore on.

Which brings us up to yesterday’s very entertaining game in OKC.

Beverley played aggressively in a 105-102 losing effort to the Thunder, getting tangled up with Russell Westbrook a couple of times. Rockets.com reporter Jason Friedman tweeted this quote from Beverley: “Anybody that knows me knows I’m not going to back down from anyone, whether it’s Westbrook or anyone else.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xPjvNy8SvA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68FF7jKzb48

Beverley’s final stats were 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Not too shabby for a guy that’s been bouncing around Europe (is Russia in Europe?) for the past several years. It has been a long and winding road for Beverley to get to the NBA, but if he keeps playing like he did last night, he’ll stick around for a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe2oP3y42kg