Patrick Beverley says guarding Ricky Rubio helped him reach NBA

Patrick Beverley’s path to the NBA included Ukraine, a $1.4 million gamble and one especially important defensive assignment.

That would be none other than Ricky Rubio.

Beverley told BasketUSA⁠ that guarding Rubio during the 2010 EuroLeague Final Four in Paris helped establish his reputation as an elite defender.

“That’s where I made a name for myself as a defender,” Beverley said, according to an English translation of the interview. “I guarded Ricky Rubio, and that’s partly what allowed me to sign in the NBA.”

Beverley was playing for Olympiacos at the time after his college career ended abruptly. Rather than wait, he began his professional career in Ukraine.

“In my opinion, it was the best decision I’ve made in my entire life,” he said.

Another expensive decision followed. Beverley paid a reported $1.4 million buyout himself to leave Olympiacos and pursue an NBA opportunity. He said the move was planned with his mother and represented the type of risk required to chase a dream.

“Money shouldn’t be a problem when you have goals like that,” Beverley said.

The gamble worked. Beverley played more than 700 NBA games and built a career around defense, toughness and making considerably more noise than his original draft status suggested.

He’s now continuing that career in France with Boulazac, an underdog club hoping to reach the Betclic Elite playoffs.

Beverley said he wants to teach his new teammates how to win, not merely during games, but through their daily habits.

Asked how he hopes to be remembered, Beverley kept it simple: someone who started with nothing, made something of it and wanted only to win.

That sounds about right.