By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Patrick Beverley has never been one to shy away from reflecting on the unique path that shaped his journey. Set to join Boulazac, often referred to as BBD, for the 2026–27 campaign in France, the Chicago native recently revisited his 2009–10 stint with Olympiacos during an appearance on the Thanalysis Show.
Long before making it to the NBA, where he logged 737 appearances, including 71 in the Playoffs, the tenacious guard suited up for 19 games with Olympiacos in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Those matchups stand as his sole appearances in the premier tournament of the Old Continent throughout his entire career.
“I didn’t know what Olympiacos, I didn’t understand the team I was playing for at the time until probably five months into the season. My first professional team was a second division team in Ukraine. So I went from Ukraine, got drafted to the NBA, I spent one more year in Greece, which was the team of Olympiacos,” he explained.
“A lot of people don’t understand, I don’t think they even know this. I tried out for Olympiacos and made the team,” he continued. “I didn’t come in a situation where they wanted me. My agent knew someone, I tried out for Olympiacos, I just went there playing hard and I made the team.”
The defensive anchor’s gritty approach in Greece ultimately laid the groundwork for a storied twelve-year run in the NBA, where his trademark intensity established him as a household name.
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