The Chicago Bulls were widely criticized for not making any trades at the deadline but they signed Patrick Beverley as a free agent instead and it’s paying dividends.
The 11-year NBA veteran grew up in Chicago and used to sneak into Bulls games as a kid. Now the fans are giving him standing ovations, while he is still pinching himself.
I really play for the bulls. Never gets old❤️❤️❤️
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) March 19, 2023
The team is 7-4 since Beverley signed in February and the enthusiasm he brings has been just what the lackluster Bulls needed.
Beverley’s presence has also meant DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine don’t have to do quite as much on the defensive end.
“The man does everything,” DeRozan told The Athletic. “(It’s) electrifying, especially when we’re at home. It gets the crowd going, and you’ve got to feed off of that when you see a guy sacrificing himself for big plays and to save a possession. It carries over from there.”
In Chicago’s 113-99 home victory over Miami on Saturday, he even scored 17 points and made the right decisions in the clutch.
14 STRAIGHT POINTS FOR PAT BEV 😤 pic.twitter.com/2NgbTnjiLE
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 19, 2023
When DeRozan was asked what Beverley brings to the team, he provided a laundry list of qualities.
“A different type of leadership,” DeRozan said. “Consistent voice. He’s played with some great players. Look at the list of players he’s played with. He’s played with some Hall of Fame players that know how to play the game. He’s not who he is for no reason. He earned that reputation of being tough, being vocal, doing everything that he brings to the table, and it shows.”