Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley called out Laker fans off the back of the organization’s trade for Dorian Finney-Smith.
After putting “and if we’re being honest the moment he doesn’t shoot well Lakers fans gonna destroy him” in a tweet in relation to Finney-Smith’s arrival to Los Angeles, Beverley went further in his criticism of Laker nation on a recent episode of his podcast “The Pat Bev Podcast”.
“They talk so bad about their players that they actually decrease their value. So now, when a trade comes, ain’t nobody just giving you s–t. No one’s trying to help the Los Angeles Lakers. We know you guys want this guy, he’s a second-rounder for every other team, but to the Lakers, he’s two first rounds. But when you have a fan base, a guy shoots bad, and they crush guys, they decrease their value,” Beverley said.
Is Patrick Beverley Right About Los Angeles Lakers Fans?
It’s no secret that since the Lakers signed LeBron James as a free agent in 2018 and especially after adding Anthony Davis to their squad the following summer expectations are high every season (as they always are for the Lakers).
It is a big reason as to why there has been a ton of roster turnover in the last few years and several coaching hirings and firings.
Is there a lot of scrutiny towards Lakers players from fans and media? Absolutely. For starters, pretty much every teammate of James’ since he started making deep playoff runs has a ton of pressure on them because he has had the weight of the NBA world on his broad shoulders.
Also Read: Los Angeles Lakers Face Challenge In Potential De’Aaron Fox Trade
Combine that with being a member of one of the most storied franchises, and you have a spotlight on you that is almost incomparable to any other scenario in the NBA.
However, Beverley’s frustrations are completely misguided. The blame should be placed at the feet of general manager Rob Pelinka and the front office. They are the ones that keep trading for and signing players including Beverley that have been either the wrong fit or past their prime.