Suns Fans Aren’t Shocked By Bradley Beal’s Clippers Season So Far
Bradley Beal’s career has sadly become defined by durability issues. The former No. 3 overall pick was a stunning talent coming out of Florida, and his time alongside John Wall on the Washington Wizards only enhanced his reputation as a dynamic shooting guard and fringe superstar during his early years in the Association.
After back-to-back All-Star seasons from 2017 to 2019, however, Beal’s durability started to take a downturn as he entered his late twenties. From the 2020-21 campaign until last season (2024-25), Beal appeared in just 64 percent of regular season games for the Wizards (three seasons) and Phoenix Suns (two seasons).
For most of Beal’s disappointing Suns tenure, his massive contract was viewed as among the worst in the NBA, due to Beal’s decline and low rate of availability.
When Beal was bought out by Phoenix this past summer and signed a new, two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, a fresh start arrived.
However, we are only four games into the new season, and Beal has already missed half of the Clippers’ contests. Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico discussed this development on Wednesday.
“The Clippers were hoping Bradley Beal would fill the scoring void left by Norman Powell’s exit,” Amico wrote. “Instead, they’re still waiting for him to get healthy.”
“Beal missed his second straight game Tuesday with back soreness, and the Clippers managed just 79 points in a loss to the (Golden State) Warriors, their fewest in nearly three years. … Beal opened the season on a minutes restriction while recovering from offseason knee surgery, scoring just 11 points total in his first two games.”
“We are missing a key component, which is Bradley Beal,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said, per Amico. “He gives us a shooter, a guy who can playmake, a guy who can handle the basketball as well. You add him to the mix, it does make us better.”
Beal is still only 32 years old, even though it feels like he’s been around forever. There’s still time for him to redefine his legacy in the coming years. Will that be in a Clippers uniform, or will Beal’s durability struggles continue to plague him? Time will tell.
Next up for the Clippers is a home game on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans to open up their NBA Cup Group Play schedule.