Patrick Beverley suspended by NBA after launching basketball multiple times at spectators

Patrick Beverley has been suspended by the NBA for four games following his actions both during and in the wake of the Milwaukee Bucks ' playoff defeat to the Indiana Pacers .

Last week, the Pacers secured a 120-98 Game 6 victory over the Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to clinch a place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. But Beverley was once again the subject of numerous controversies, including twice launching a ball into the crowd in anger at fans as Milwaukee's fate was sealed.

TNT star and NBA legend Charles Barkley even called for Beverley to be suspended by the NBA after he threw a ball into the crowd on two occasions. The incident was picked up by cameras; with 2:32 remaining in the game, Beverley tossed the the ball toward a woman and struck her in the head - and once he got the ball back, Beverley threw a more powerful effort at a man sat behind the Bucks’ bench.

READ MORE: Jalen Brunson runs off injury scare to inspire Knicks to famous win against Pacers

READ MORE: Nikola Jokic named NBA MVP for third time as Nuggets star joins exclusive club

Remarkably, Beverley appeared to defend his conduct towards the fans following the incident. Re-posting a clip of the altercation, the guard took to X to defend his actions as he wrote: “Not Fair at all. Exchanged between a fan and our ball club all night. We warned and asked for help all night. Not fair.”

He then added: “But I have to be better. And I will.”

Perhaps Beverley was frustrated with his own performance, leading to his actions and the four-game suspension - as well as a police investigation . As the Giannis Antetokounmpo -less Bucks were eliminated from the postseason, Beverley shot an ugly 3-for-11 from the floor en route to six points alongside five assists and two rebounds.

Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news

It was reported that fans around the bench taunted Beverley and the Bucks, chanting "Cancun on three" to mock the team. On the latest episode of his podcast on May 8, Beverley accepted responsibility for his actions and shed further light into what happened between him and the fan.

"Let's just say it was more than 'Cancun on three.' Let's just say it was more than that," Beverley said. "And I'm not here to shed light on a particular story. I'm here to shed light on what I did was absolutely bad and that should've never happened.

"I will be better, I have to be better and I will be better. That should have never happened. Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened. Simple as that. Indiana was great, but there was a handful of fans ... but it was just a little bit more than that.

"I've been called a lot of stuff in this league, I've been called a ton of stuff. But I haven't been called that one. I haven't been called that one. Still inexcusable, doesn't matter what was said."