Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour — "The Real Reason Patrick Beverley Was Traded 7 Times" (DSH #1616)

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Patrick Beverley
Date: November 13, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode features NBA veteran Patrick Beverley in a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation with host Sean Kelly. The focus is on Beverley’s candid reflections about his career, particularly the emotions and business decisions behind his numerous trades, his experiences in both the NBA and overseas, thoughts on basketball culture, player longevity, injuries, and the realities of being a professional athlete. The discussion also delves into evolving perspectives on the NBA, WNBA, media narratives, and Beverley’s personal and spiritual journey.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Recent Playing Experience in Israel and Abroad

• Beverley describes his recent season playing in Tel Aviv:

  “It was a vibe. It was really nice. Minus the obvious, you know, bombs and shit. But other than that, it was. It was beautiful. The country is beautiful. The people are great... built a lifetime bond with teammates over there.” — Pat Beverley [01:09]

• Living in Herzliya felt “like Miami every day,” highlighting the contrast between news headlines and his lived experience [59:16–63:23].

2. Longevity, Training, and Changing Health in Basketball

• Beverley stays motivated and in peak shape, feeling as good as he did in his 20s.

  "I'm still working out. Like, I feel like I'm 25 almost. ... The proof is always in the pudding, baby." — Pat Beverley [01:42]

• Discussion on why more players are extending their careers into their late 30s [02:33].

3. The Big Three, Offseason Moves, and Modern NBA Trends

• Praises Ice Cube for the success and vision of the Big Three, offering continued relevance for older players [02:59].
• Surprised by recent trades and waivers, especially Damian Lillard’s mid-career waiver.

  "To get a guy like that and a team waves him...never would have predicted. Never would have thought wave." — Pat Beverley [03:49]

• Talks injuries (“eight torn Achilles last season”) and links them to player conditioning and increased game tempo [05:07–06:33].

4. Youth Basketball, Injuries, and AAU Concerns

• Reflects on the toll of AAU and year-long basketball on youth injuries, sharing the story of his daughter's ACL/MCL injury. Emphasizes the need for balance and exposure versus overplaying [06:41–08:53].

  "I just think that it's a. It's a lot going on. ....They're playing back to back to back, and you, you know, you're on a court and then you go right to the hotel ..." — Pat Beverley [08:23]

5. WNBA, Production, & Gender in Sports

• Pushes against lowering WNBA rims, seeing the core issue as marketing and production value rather than player capability.

  “The product is there. ... It’s not a product issue. ... I think it's more of a production issue. ... Maybe we address that with WNBA. Let's get some purple courts out there, let's get some pink courts out there... Let's do more funky stuff." — Pat Beverley [11:35–13:04]

• Notes the rapid growth of women’s basketball and increased athleticism.

6. Favorite NBA Seasons & Trades Backstory (Why Was Pat Traded So Much?)

• Favorite team: Minnesota Timberwolves because of the locker room culture and his leadership role [13:43].

  "I was able to give the locker room a winning spirit. ...I was able to, I wouldn't say change the culture, but I was able to give the locker room a winning spirit..." — Pat Beverley [15:06]

• Emotional reaction to playing against the Clippers in the play-in was about lack of recognition and compensation for his earlier contributions.

  “You put your blood, sweat and tears into an organization and you want to be compensated for it and you don't get it. Now you play them in a one on one ... Now, you see why, right?" — Pat Beverley [17:44]

• Shared the circumstances of each trade—some known, some out of nowhere (i.e., the Philly trade) [20:37–22:24].
• Details the business side:

  “I get on the bus. Trade deadline. Darryl Morey on the bus. ... Oh, that's how you know ... Ain't been here all year. You on the bus. Okay, say less." — Pat Beverley [21:00]

7. Playoff What-Ifs, Luck, and Peak Teams

• Recalls teams he thinks could have won a championship if healthy (the Bucks, Rockets with Dwight Howard, and Bubble teams) [22:57–23:43].
• On luck:

  “I'm not the guy that believes in luck... I believe you make your own luck..." — Pat Beverley [23:47]

8. Hard Work, Preparation, and Defensive Mindset

• Deep dive into his preparation and defensive approach:

  “Trying to find ways each summer, like no matter how old I get, find ways to get better. And I think that's the key." — Pat Beverley [27:03]

• Defensive edge comes from knowing offensive players as intimately as he knows himself; emphasizes mind games and psychological warfare.

  "All you motherfuckers is trash. I can lock up any one of you motherfuckers. Who do you want me to guard next, coach?" — Pat Beverley [31:15]

• On role players vs. superstars:

  “Guarding a role player, guarding a superstar, two totally different things ..." — Pat Beverley [30:19]

9. Perspective on the “Villain” Role and Reception

• Welcomes being booed everywhere, sees it as respect earned for his impact and work [50:07–51:01].

  “Anyone can clap... But to boo a motherfucker? That's hard. That takes a different energy. ... It's respect." — Pat Beverley [49:51]

• Endorses Draymond Green as one of the few other “polarizing figures” [50:51].

10. Media, Awards, and Relationships

• Feels awards like All-Defensive are subjective, often influenced by media relationships [51:57–52:23].
• Once he became a member of the media, he saw firsthand how easily narratives could build or destroy a player’s reputation, citing LeBron and Ben Simmons as examples [52:29–55:53]:

  "This man is probably one of the most underpaid athletes ever. ... LeBron James, Steph Curry should have made a billion dollars at least in NBA." — Pat Beverley [53:29–54:01] "To see, like, media, to see other people...destroy him time after time...he deserves to be out there, man." — Pat Beverley on LeBron [55:10]

• Talks about the emotional and real impact that negative media can have on athletes' careers and mental health.

11. On Overseas Play and Social Issues

• Honest talk about living in Israel during times of conflict, his faith, and relating his upbringing in Chicago with normalcy amid violence [59:08–64:10].
• Reiterates positive, even “magical,” experience of playing in Israel:

  "In my mind, I'm like, damn, I get to touch the Jesus touch... I get to experience the things that Jesus experienced." — Pat Beverley [61:35]

12. Personal Faith

• Major influence of Christianity in his life; it is foundational:

  “Not even like, the role, like the most important role.” — Beverley on faith [64:32]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On getting traded from the Clippers:

  “Y’ all do respect Errol Frank. Like, you know, he gotta. You ain’t gonna pay me. Like, you trade me.... I put this Clipper brand on my back, I want to be compensated for that, you know, like everyone else...” [15:06–16:30]

• On the emotional playoff win over the Clippers:

  “You see me standing on the scoreboard taking jersey off, and you see me emotional. But if you knew the backstory...now you see why…” [17:44]

• On preparedness as a defender:

  “Being a pro, being a basketball player...I can’t not have those numbers going to battle...” [41:46–42:19]

• On the difference between NBA and WNBA marketing:

  “NBA and WNBA are obviously under the same brand, but those are two differently, like, totally different brands. ...It’s just hard to market. ... Let’s get some purple courts out there. Let’s get some pink courts out there...” [11:35–13:04]

• On youth basketball overtraining:

  “But realistically, I don’t long run. I don’t think it's the, the, the, the best form way to go.” [08:53]

• On success despite adversity:

  “Me paying myself, you know, me paying to play in the NBA in the beginning of my season to a 30 year old again betting on himself...” [18:29]

• On “making your own luck”:

  “I believe you make your own luck because if you, if it's good luck, that means gotta be bad luck ... I don't think it's a motherfucker wake up every day with bad luck on them...” [23:47]

• On the “villain” role:

  “Everywhere I go, I get booed... it's respect. I like it. Damn. I like it.” [50:23–50:35]

• On social media and the media’s destructive power:

  “What I witnessed ... people do to LeBron James. ...It’s almost disturbing...you have to think like, damn. Are underpaid. Like LeBron James, Steph Curry should have made a billion dollars at least in NBA.” [53:29–54:01] "Like, he's [Ben Simmons]...hasn't been the same" — Pat Beverley [55:41]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Intro & Recent Season Abroad: [00:27–01:40]
• Training, Longevity, and The State of Pro Basketball: [01:40–03:26]
• Big Three & Offseason Moves: [02:55–04:18]
• Injury Discussions & Player Conditioning: [05:07–06:37]
• Youth Basketball, Overplay, & Daughter’s Injury: [06:37–09:41]
• WNBA Production/Marketing Debate: [11:35–13:37]
• Minnesota Years/Emotional Play-in Appearance: [13:43–18:29]
• Trade Stories: [20:37–22:53]
• Playoff What-Ifs, Luck and Injuries: [23:47–24:17]
• Defensive Preparation & Mindset: [27:11–31:15]
• Media, Narratives, & Athlete Well-being: [52:29–56:27]
• Overseas Experience (Israel) & Faith: [59:00–65:04]

Conclusion

In a raw, animated conversation, Patrick Beverley opens up about the realities behind an NBA journeyman’s career—laying bare the emotional, psychological, business, and spiritual components that fans rarely see. From the complexity of trades and what motivates him as a defender, to navigating the challenges of media narratives and finding joy (and peace) in unexpected places like Israel, Beverley’s authenticity and candor define the episode. This interview is essential listening for anyone interested in the true, unfiltered life of a modern pro athlete.