Creech: Despite fine, Rockets' Pat Beverley handled situation well

OKLAHOMA CITY - After the NBA hit Rockets guard Pat Beverley with a $25,000 fine on Sunday for his incident with a Thunder fan, he posed an interesting question.

What would you do if you were in the same situation?

Here's what went down on Friday night in Oklahoma City. Beverley was fouled and went into the stands. The fan - Stuart Scaramucci, the son of Thunder minority owner Jay Scaramucci. - leaned over while Beverley was on the ground and repeatedly yelled "F--- you, Patrick Beverley" before he could get up.

Beverley tried pointing Scaramucci out to officials at the time and they did nothing. When the game ended, Beverley said he walked over and said a few words to Scaramucci before heading to the locker room.

"I addressed him and said 'at the end of the day, this is a basketball game. I'm a grown man, you're a grown man. Now keep it professional. There's no need for the blatant disrespect,'" Beverley said. "And that's all."

Beverley went on to say that he accepts the fine, but he does think the NBA needs to step up and protect its players. If the league won't, he said, he will continue to look out for himself.

Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) asks the crowd to cheer for the team as the Houston Rockets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series at Toyota Center Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Houston. The Rockets defeated the Thunders 115-111. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle ) less Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) asks the crowd to cheer for the team as the Houston Rockets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series at ... more Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 86 Caption Close Creech: Despite fine, Rockets' Pat Beverley handled situation well 1 / 86 Back to Gallery

I understand players aren't supposed to approach fans, but I have no issue with Beverley in this situation and couldn't agree with him more.

Remember, Beverley received death threats from an OKC ball boy in 2013. He has every right to feel threatened and to stand up for himself the way he did Friday – especially at an arena where the fans are extra hostile toward him.

He didn't get physical. He didn't use profanity.

I've thought about it a lot. I'm sure my perspective is different than most.

It's no secret that I put up with nonstop trolling on social media and occasionally in person.

Twitter doesn't protect me from the violent threats I receive. I have to make the choice to engage or to ignore. Whatever my reaction, though, it's something I have to think about frequently. I have to wonder if it's all just talk or if one of these people will ever actually cross a line and do something to me.

I understand what players have to go through on some level.

If confronted in person the way Beverley was Friday, I would absolutely stand up for myself. And I can only hope I would have been as calm as Beverley was about it.

As far as the Thunder, they should be ashamed that Scaramucci represents them. They have loud, passionate, wonderful fans in Oklahoma City and it's too bad that he is the one getting airtime. He was back in his seat on Sunday - yelling and cussing at referees and players the whole game.

It's one thing to be passionate. It's another to be classless.

It cost Beverley $25,000 but maybe this incident will make basketball fans think about their actions moving forward.

And it should definitely motivate the NBA to hold its security to a higher standard.

Beverley deserved that on Friday.

These players deserve it every day.