Patrick Beverley's Solid Postseason Play Overshadowed by Reported Death Threats

Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley allegedly received death threats via Twitter from Oklahoma City Thunder ball boy Mitchell Brown after Game 2, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Thunder star Russell Westbrook suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee in Game 2 when Beverley lunged at him attempting a steal. Some believe the play was dirty.

Brown has since denied tweeting the death threats, saying his account was hacked. Either way, it's an unpleasant turn of events for a young player who has played very well in his postseason debut.

Beverley, selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, experienced his first regular-season action in the NBA this season. In 41 regular-season games, he averaged 5.6 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in about 17 minutes per contest. 

Despite not scoring in double digits since March 24, he hit that mark in each of his first two postseason games, posting 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in Game 1, and 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in Game 2.

In fact, it's ironic that so much negative publicity has surrounded Beverley after Westbrook's injury in Game 2, because that was one of Beverley's best games as a pro and almost led to the Rockets upsetting the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Unfortunately, this happens way too often in professional sports. Whether you believe Beverley's play was clean or dirty, there is absolutely no excuse for sending someone a death threat like this, especially coming from a team employee. Brown is lucky he wasn't fired by the Thunder after the tweet.

Beverley should feel good about his strong performance in the playoffs. Instead, he has to hear about a ball boy allegedly sending him death threats. For a player who has gone through a lot to finally see the hardwood in the NBA, he doesn't deserve this. In fact, nobody does.