Milwaukee Bucks Guard Patrick Beverley says OKC Thunder are "Too Young" to Make NBA Finals

On a recent episode of the Pat Bev Podcast, the veteran guard explained why he thinks Oklahoma City won't be able to make a run the the NBA Finals this season.

Mar 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley (21) drives to the / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After multiple run-ins with beloved former Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, many Oklahoma City fans have never been fond of veteran journeyman Patrick Beverley.

Now, the current Milwaukee Bucks guard has once again stoked the OKC fire by claiming on his podcast that the Thunder won't make the NBA Finals despite a solid performance in the regular season.

On the most recent episode of the "Pat Bev Podcast", Beverley described a recent interaction he had with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander before the Bucks matchup with the Thunder's on March 24.

"They forcing you left and making you step back. You know you have to have a counter for that right," Beverley said to SGA. According to Beverley, the Thunder's star responded by saying "Alright I got you, see y'all in June," alluding to the NBA Finals.

Following Gilgeous-Alexander's response, Beverley fired back with, "Nah, y'all ain't going to make it."

Gilgeous-Alexander and Beverley were teammates during SGA's rookie year when in Los Angeles, making a playoff appearance and taking the Golden State Warriors to six games in the opening round.

When Beverley's co-host asked why he thought Oklahoma City wouldn't make a run through the Western Conference, the 12-year veteran gave a quick response.

"Too young," Beverley said. "It's just tough to beat Denver man, that's all. It's no discredit to any team, it's just tough to beat Denver man."

After the Nuggets took down Oklahoma City back in October at the beginning of the regular season, the Thunder have responded with three consecutive victories over the defending NBA champions. Still, Beverley is not alone in believing that OKC's youth could hold Mark Daigneault's team back in the playoffs.

All season, national media members have pointed out that young teams often struggle in the playoffs against veteran teams with more postseason experience. For the Thunder, only Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Gordon Hayward, Mike Muscala and Bismack Biyombo have even appeared in a playoff series.

At 25-years-old, Gilgeous-Alexander is the oldest player in the Thunder's usual starting lineup. While Hayward is a rotation player off of the bench, most of OKC's roster will get its first taste of postseason basketball in April when the NBA Playoffs begin.

Still, Oklahoma City has had an excellent regular season performance and is currently tied for first place in the Western Conference with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday night with a win over the New York Knicks or a loss from the Sacramento Kings.

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