On Wednesday evening, Bradley Beal made his season debut for the Phoenix Suns, joining the team on the floor against the Chicago Bulls. Even with Devin Booker’s calf injury sidelining him, the Suns were able to play with one of their new toys; part of the Suns new “Big 3.”
This offseason, the Suns decided to move away from aging HOF PG Chris Paul & baby shit-soft C Deandre Ayton after another disappointing finish to their season. Even with the addition of superstar talent Kevin Durant, the Suns were bounced early in the playoffs after being dubbed the favorite to win the chip.
Beal, who was sidelined for the initial seven games due to a back ailment, scored 13 points in the Suns’ narrow 116-115 victory over the Bulls in an overtime thriller.
The Suns, who secured Beal’s services from the Washington Wizards back in June, had the guard on the court for 24 minutes. Despite showing some expected signs of rust, Beal’s performance had its high points. According to coach Frank Vogel, Beal’s uneven play was anticipated given the challenging nature of the matchup.
“He was good in stretches and you could tell he was a little bit rough in stretches. We’re playing him in a way that’s tough to get a rhythm. But I really love how he competed. We’re 1-0 with Bradley Beal in the lineup.”
-Suns HC Frank Vogel
Prior to the game, the decision was made that Beal would not participate should the game extend into overtime. Vogel highlighted the importance of being prudent with Beal’s playtime, aiming to keep his stints short to prevent any strain in his first game back.
Expressing his frustration, but also relief, at the team’s depth after the win, Beal reflected on his long tenure with the Wizards, where he averaged 22.1 points over 11 seasons. Vogel stressed a cautious approach with Beal’s playtime against the Bulls, opting for a flexible minute restriction rather than a fixed cap.
Despite hitting a couple of three-pointers early on, Beal found the rest of the game challenging in terms of shooting, ending the night with 3-of-12 from the field. Even with timing issues, Beal was pleased with his shot selection and eager to be playing again.
Beal’s debut was a significant moment for the Suns, who hadn’t seen him play in a regular-season game since his acquisition. Last season, he averaged 23.2 points for the Wizards. Beal’s return not only contributed to the Suns’ offense but also created opportunities for his teammates, evidenced by the team’s 19 successful three-point shots.
The one Sun who benefited most from the space created by Beal being on the floor was new Suns sharp-shooter Grayson Allen, who went 8-13 from behind the arc. Allen, who was part of the trade package that sent Jusef Nurkic to the Suns & superstar Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, gave a favorable review on how Beal’s attention from the defense opened up the floor for others. Beal’s first game back was also his first with his new teammate Kevin Durant. Durant also was quick to praise Beal’s versatility & impact on the court.
As the Suns anticipate a roster featuring all of their weapons on the floor at the same time, fans are looking forward to a season supplied with new, positive synergy surrounding the organization. Their new offensive firepower on the court & a new head coach off the court is allowing for another optimistic outlook for the team’s performance in 2023-2024.
But will that positive synergy translate into the first Larry O’Brian trophy won by the Phoenix Suns organization?
That question won’t be answered until next summer, but Vegas says it looks good so far.
