NBA Draft: Re-drafting the historic 2009 NBA Draft

Partick Beverley’s journey to becoming one of the NBA’s most prolific agitators is an interesting one. The man endured several years of stops overseas and in the D-League before finding a permanent home with the Houston Rockets during the 2012-13 season.

It was also during that postseason where Beverley developed a, uh, less than pristine reputation when he dove for a loose ball and collided with Russell Westbrook’s knee, tearing Westbrook’s meniscus. It sabotaged any hopes the Oklahoma City Thunder had of returning to the NBA Finals.

This started a prolonged beef between the two that still rages on to this day, but it also speaks to Beverley’s mindset as an overlooked second-round pick.

Given Beverley’s proclivities to on-court griminess, getting drafted by the Detroit Pistons would’ve made all the sense in the world. Who better to embrace a player like that than a team that once employed Bill Laimbeer, who was arguably the most hated NBA player outside of the Motor City in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Aside from his irritating defense, Beverley can occasionally put the ball on the floor to score or set up other teammates. His career 38.0 percent mark from 3-point range gives primary shot creators space to operate.

So while most fans and opposing players chide Beverley for his YMCA style of play, Detroit would’ve enjoyed cheering for the man who embodies almost all the traits of the “fan favorite”, a player who would inspire a certain sort of basketball fan to either buy or fashion themselves a Beverley jersey.