Usually, it’s the franchises that pay nuggets handsome salaries to secure their services after the draft… But for one well-known NBA veteran, the story was very different. It was his mother who had to pay a team to give him a chance.
For years and years, there has been a clear path to the NBA for American players: be good at high school, commit to a good university and make it at NCAA level, then enter the draft in the hope of being selected. For those who are not so lucky, you have to count on an invitation to the Summer League and shine to dream of a contract.
While this traditional route has changed in recent years, the principle remains the same. The most talented players now spend just one year at university, where Michael Jordan spent three seasons at North Carolina, while others prefer to go to Australia or the G League, but in all cases the aim is to reach the top level as quickly as possible.
The huge gesture from Patrick Beverley’s mother
And that’s what makes Patrick Beverley’s story all the sweeter. After a glorious career at High School level, where he averaged 38 points, he was totally snubbed by the scouts and had to fly to Europe to discover the professional world… And after spending three seasons between Greece and Russia, he had to rely on a huge gesture from his mother to live his dream. He told Kevin Hart’s YouTube channel :
“At one point in Europe, I decided to give up my NBA dream, to focus on my career and make lots of money. I wanted to break records and take mediocre teams to the European Cup… Three days later I got a call from the NBA. I could either sign for the Cavaliers or the Rockets. I knew I couldn’t beat Kyrie Irving, and in Houston the starter was Jeremy Lin, so that was fine. But I had to pay.
I had a clause in my Russian contract that forbade me from going to the NBA. I was 22 and didn’t know the business, so I thought the Rockets would pay the 1.6 million needed to release me from my contract. They could only give $250,000. My agent told me I had to pay. My mum literally took out her chequebook and paid 1.4 million for me to play in the league. I earned so little that I had to sleep at home for my first few seasons.”
When you read this story, you understand where Patrick Beverley’s unwavering determination on NBA floors comes from… His own mother had to pay more than $1 million so that he could live his dream and join the Rockets in 2012, without any guarantee that he would have a big career. It was a bold choice that has since paid off, as he has amassed almost $80 million in 10 years!
Mrs Beverley had to break out the chequebook to allow her son to leave Russia and take his chance with the Rockets. An incredibly profitable investment, and further proof that behind every successful man lies a great woman.
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