Pat Beverley Deems Luka Doncic ‘Toughest Person He’s Ever Guarded’

Former NBA player Patrick Beverley made his feleings clear regaridng the Lakers superstar Luka Doncic while he tries to return to the NBA.

Pat Beverley Deems Luka Doncic ‘Toughest Person He’s Ever Guarded’

Luka Doncic and Patrick Beverley (Image by FirstSportz)

The foreign division of Patrick Beverley closed sooner than anticipated. The veteran point guard left Hapoel Tel Aviv after a public altercation with head coach Dimitris Itoudis after joining the Israeli team in the summer. Despite all this, he does make time to talk about issues and topics in and around the NBA on his Pat Bev Podcast.

Most recently, Beverley responded to a post on X containing a clip of an older version of Luka Doncic easily destroying defenders in the NBA. Ever since the Slovenian has touched foot on court, he has been a sensation in the NBA. He was one of the best players at his former side, the Dallas Mavericks, before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade this February.

toughest person i ever had to guard. sheesh

Patrick Beverley tweeted

Beverley’s hard fouls, feuds with superstars, arrogant demeanor, and attempts to provoke opponents during games have earned him a bad reputation. He is excellent on defense, though, and his annoying style of play frequently causes the top players in the game to struggle. For a player of the caliber of Beverley to come out and say these words about Luka Magic speaks volumes about his skillset in the game.

Beverley has often spoken about this topic in the past. Before Luka, the former NBA player had named Damian Lillard as the ‘toughest player ever to guard’ in the NBA. Given that, he is certain that he would perform well against players like Trae Young, Lillard, and Stephen Curry, who are comparable in size and stature.

But players who play primarily as ball handlers but could also go forward, like Doncic or even LeBron James, are a nightmare for opponents. He witnessed that with Doncic when the former player played against him in the past, naming him the toughest to guard even in 2025.

Not the FIRST time, Patrick Beverley spoke highly about Luka Doncic

Patrick Beverley is known for his outspoken nature on and off the court. He does not shy away from giving his opinion on any matter regarding player battles, rankings, comparing players, etc. On a segment of his Pat Bev Podcast with Rone, the former NBA player spoke about two top NBA players: Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic.

Doncic was more difficult to guard than the two-time MVP, Beverley acknowledged. He clarified that it is challenging to overcome the size difference between himself and guards as tall and powerful as the Lakers’ star.

Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley (Credits: MARCA)

For me, it’s the Luka’s. The guy who plays point guard but they 6’8. Them the guys who give me problems. If I’m running Steph, I’m okay, cool. I’m top-blocking everything. You got to have 12 layups, that’s all I’m thinking about in my head. You want your 26?

Patrick Beverley said

Beverley explained how he protects smaller guards like Curry. He clarified that to prevent them from having too many chances to shoot, he attempts to get in their face. But against a player like Doncic, who defends with his frame and muscle, Beverley stands no chance. One of the major reasons why Pat rates Doncic so highly.

Patrick Beverley opened up on his ‘return’ to the NBA

In his July 3 podcast, Beverley confidently discussed his next course of action. Although he made it obvious that he expects to rejoin the league, he noted the timing of free agency and the uncertainties surrounding roster places. For now, Beverley is not playing for any side and will be eager to return to action as soon as possible.

We’re going back. There ain’t really nothing to talk about.

Patrick Beverley said

Beverley established his career as an explosive player on defense and is still a three-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team. He produced 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists during 666 NBA games. His expertise could prove beneficial to teams looking for seasoned leadership and on-ball aggressiveness. It remains to be seen how his future unfolds in the coming months.

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