NBA: Top 10 candidates for 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year

Patrick Beverley of the LA Clippers will never be confused with an NBA superstar. No, his niche is to be the guy that makes life miserable for those superstars.

Nicknamed “Mr. 94 Feet,” Beverley has forged a solid career — and a pair of All-Defensive selections — out of making opponents work for everything they get.

Just 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, it took Beverley three years just to make it into the NBA after being a second-round pick in 2009.

Now 31 years old, Beverley doesn’t dazzle with steal numbers and he’s not a rim protector — though he blocks more shots than someone his size ought to. But what Beverley does is just play in-your-grille, all-over-the-court defense and he doesn’t shy away from anyone.

He was covering Kevin Durant — nearly a foot taller than him — during the first round of the playoffs last season. Durant eventually got cooking in that series, but not before Beverley irritated the beejeezus out of him first.

Beverley is a classic eye-test defender. He’s not a darling of the metrics and he doesn’t put up flashy stats.

But he’s earned a reputation as a top-flight defender and on a Clippers team that should be markedly improved defensively with the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Beverley might have an outside shot at making a run for the trophy.