Trae Young posts 12-minute rebuttal after Patrick Beverley questions his leadership
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ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young released a nearly 12-minute video on X Wednesday, answering criticism leveled by veteran guard Patrick Beverley about Young’s All-Star résumé and leadership.
The exchange began last week when Beverley commented on X about the NBA All-Star Game, claiming players “take the game for granted.” He added, “Not 1 All-Star on the court,” referring to offseason open runs that feature intense play. Young, a four-time All-Star, replied, telling Beverley to “relax” and let current players speak for themselves.
On his “Pat Bev Pod” four days later, Beverley fired back, saying Young “hasn’t won enough” to address him. Beverley noted his nine playoff trips in 12 seasons compared with Young’s three appearances in seven seasons. “My first seven years I didn’t miss the playoffs at all in the Western Conference,” Beverley said. He also claimed he had spoken with former Hawks players who told him they “didn’t want to play there” because they viewed the franchise as “Trae’s Hawks” rather than the Atlanta Hawks.
Young responded Wednesday night, insisting Beverley “doesn’t know what it’s like” to be in his position. “State your source,” Young said. “Which teammate of mine told you that?” The 26-year-old guard pointed out several All-Stars Beverley has played alongside and mocked Beverley’s emotional celebration after a 2022 play-in victory with the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I win play-in games on the road, and I’m ready to get to the playoffs. You win play-in games at home, and you’re standing on the scorer’s table like it’s a championship,” Young said.
Young emphasized that he has “nothing but love” for Beverley, adding that Beverley could contact him through mutual former teammates. He closed the video with the opening seconds of Drake’s 2013 song “Tuscan Leather,” which contains the lyric, “Bench players talkin’ like starters, I hate it.”
On Thursday, the Hawks escalated the back-and-forth by posting a compilation of Young scoring against Beverley. In seven regular-season meetings, Beverley’s teams lead the series 4-3. Young has averaged 25.3 points, 9.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1 steal in those games, while Beverley has averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals.
Source: ESPN
