Bulls fans know Patrick Beverley all too well. Whether as a pesky opponent or as the team’s soul for the last month of the 2021-22 season, Beverley has undoubtedly left his mark on his hometown franchise. Tonight, he returned to Chicago for the first time since leaving in free agency, agreeing to a one-year, $3 million deal to join the reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. With a nearly identical roster to last season when he was with the Bulls, many players are still well aware of the 35-year-old guard and how he plays. DeMar DeRozan decided to give him a special welcome back to the United Center in poetic fashion.
Giving Beverley Some Of His Own Medicine
Leading the 76ers 56-48 at the break, led by DeRozan’s 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, the Bulls are taking full advantage of Embiid being scratched from the lineup before the game. For a few stints in the first half, former teammate Beverley was tasked with guarding Chicago’s leading scorer and may have forgotten a few of the tricks the former USC guard has up his sleeve. After one midrange bucket over his former teammate, DeRozan mocked Beverley with a move he’s all too familiar with.
Moments later, DeRozan scooted past the defensive menace for a tricky layup finish, contributing further to his 15 first-half points. On the other hand, Beverley is having a rough night, 0-for-2 from the field with two points. He’s looking for a second-half bounce back individually and as a team.
Turn Back The Clock
Many Bulls fans have already chuckled at the sight of DeRozan’s humourous taunt, knowing precisely what he’s referring to. During his limited stint with Chicago last season, Beverley scored a bucket over his former teammate LeBron James against the team he’d been cut from just weeks earlier. He followed it with the same gesture toward the taller and stronger Lakers’ forward, and the NBA world loved it.
There’s also a hidden gem in the history of Patrick Beverley and the ‘too small’ antics, dating back to his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls’ guard Ayo Dosunmu. Beverley stunted on the young point guard in 2021, to which DeRozan returned the favor later that game.
As it turns out, DeRozan’s quietly dolling out vengeance for all of Beverley’s celebration victims, never letting the 6’2″ guard forget where the size advantage lies. It’s all fun and games between former teammates and ten-year veterans and never fails to amuse the crowd and social media alike.
