Patrick Beverley is a very outspoken NBA player who gained more notoriety after his polarizing takes on ESPN’s “First Take” program. However, the newest Los Angeles Lakers member recently hit a nerve when he came for high-end barbers who he feels are charging celebrity athletes exorbitant amounts of money for their services.
On his podcast, Beverley revealed that he’s being charged $300 for one session and he has now stopped getting haircuts.
Holy hairline.
“These guys are getting slightly disrespectful now,” Beverley said. “I’m talking about like, come to the crib, lining you up; how much? ‘$300.’ Like damn, that’s a pretty penny, every I don’t know week $300. So you see my sh*t? I don’t even cut my sh*t.”
Now barbers are speaking out about the disrespect of their services, which are highly specialized when dealing with televised athletes.
“When you hire a barber to come out of his or her place of business this is a form of contracting that demands a largr price point due to the nature and location of services,” said Marvin “Marv The Barb” Church of Marvin Church Grooming told TSL.
The celebrity groomer has styled countless NBA and NFL players and clients in the media and entertainment industries. As a specialist that focuses on providing a private grooming experience for his executive and celebrity clientele, Church is often flown across the country to service his high-profile customer base.
“These barbers are called Celebrity Groomers for a reason: they cut celebrities’ hair. They are trusted and respected individuals with a great reputation for their work. When you hire a Celebrity Groomer, you are investing in your appearance, which comes at a price. I think Pat Beverley should just keep a budget,” Church continued.
“No one wants to devalue anyone’s talents and skills. If Pat Beverley feels barber’s prices for house calls are disrespectful, it can also feel disrespectful for him to critique the prices. Who are you to determine the value of someone’s skill set and services? You, my guy, just disrespected all the barbers in the world trying to come up and get their just due. Do you know how hard it is to become a barber that cuts celebrities?”
Hair is an expression of creativity in the NBA, going back to Allen Iverson, who took the game by storm with his intricate braiding patterns or photo shoots with a full-blown afro on display. LeBron James’ podcast-style show, The Shop, takes place in a barbershop to preserve the sanctity of how people talk within the hallowed confines.
Recently, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler debuted his new look, faux locs that transformed his appearance. It also opened up the conversation of men using hair accents like extensions that were normally reserved for styles displayed by women. Butler’s new hairstyle looks costly, and with installation and maintenance, his salon session was probably on par or above what Patrick Beverley is complaining about. Still, a service for a high-level athlete will be treated differently than that of a regular joe.
“To all the Patrick Beverleys out there, know that this is some barber’s business,” Church continued. “You can’t knock the hustle. Just respect their grind. Build a good relationship. You can never short-change someone who is changing you for the better.”
