• Jacket, Just Cavalli; Pullover, Dolce & Gabbana; Shirt, Thomas Pink; Sunglasses, Calvin Klein
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  • Sweater, Just Cavalli; Shirt and Tie, Thomas Pink; Pants, Pigalle; Watch, Parmigiani Fleurier
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  • Jacket, BLK DNM, Sweater, Alexandre Plokhov; Scarf, Sean John; Watch, Parmigiani Fleurier
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  • Jacket, Just Cavalli; Pullover, Dolce & Gabbana; Shirt, Thomas Pink; Sunglasses, Calvin Klein
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Tough Enough On the court, Patrick Beverley of the Houston Rockets doesn’t make friends. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

     Patrick Beverley can name for you all of his friends in the NBA very quickly. “My teammates,” he says, “Derrick Rose and Will Bynum, my Chicago guys. Other than that, I don’t need any other friends.”
     Such is the professional life of the man known as “Mr. 94 Feet.” In a league that glorifies stratospheric dunks and relentlessly accurate three-point shooting, Beverley has made a name for himself being the player that point guards dread playing against. And he is proud of that image.
     “Gritty, grinding, defensive-minded, you don’t see that in point guards these days,” Beverley says, taking a rare break during his Athletes Quarterly photo shoot. “It definitely can rub people the wrong way. If I had played 20 years ago, I would have fit right in.”
     The road to the NBA didn’t come easy to Beverley. Drafted by the Lakers, he was traded to the Miami Heat, but ended up heading to Europe to play in the Ukraine in 2008. “I was so young, 19 years old, my mom came to live with me that first year,” he remembers. “No one spoke English. I would go into a store looking for chicken, and I would be flapping my arms, using hand signals. Meanwhile my friends were playing in the NBA. It was a humbling experience.
     Determined to be a pro player, Beverley finished the season in the Ukraine, then when to Greece the following season where he joined Josh Childress to lead Olympiacos to the Greek Cup. After the NBA lockout, Beverley received a contract for over $1 million to return to play in Russia.
     “Signing that deal definitely took the pressure off,” said the man who knows how to apply pressure. Once I stopped worrying about making it to the NBA, the calls started coming. Soon I had a choice to play in Houston or Cleveland.”
     Beverley’s mother had moved to Houston a few years prior, raving about the city’s upside. The choice for him was simple. In his first season (2012-13), Beverely shared the point guard with Jeremy Lin. Last year, Beverley made the job his own, starting 55 of the 56 games he played, and averaging over 10 points per game in addition to his physical style of defense.
     It’s that style of play that has made him a fan favorite among Rockets fans. “James Harden and Dwight Howard are superstars for everyone,” he says. “But a hard-working city like Houston, they appreciate guys that work for everything they’ve got. If I’m on your team, you love to have me. If not, you hate me. I’m ok with that. One thing is for sure. You’re going to get your rest the night before you play Houston. You’re supposed to. We’re out here to win, not collect checks.”