After a hot start to the season, the Phoenix Suns have dropped four of their last five games largely in part due to injuries. Kevin Durant missed multiple games in that five-game stretch. Another critical player currently missing time is Suns guard Bradley Beal, who will continue to sit out as Phoenix begins a six-game stretch at home on Monday against the Orlando Magic.
Suns Guard Remains Out As Phoenix Begins Home Stand
Suns Guard Bradley Beal Continues to Sit Alongside KD
After spending much of last season sidelined due to injury, Beal is again the victim of his body failing to keep him upright. Nursing a calf injury, the three-time All-Star, in his second season with the Suns, has missed the last three games. Beal exited last week’s game against the Utah Jazz, and the Suns injury report as of Monday morning indicated he will remain out for their game against the Magic.
Beal is averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 assists, and shooting 38.3% from three on the season. It was a muddled, inconsistent 2023-24 season for Beal, his first in Phoenix. This year, he has appeared in only nine of 14 games the Suns have played. It’s sadly a continuation of Beal’s career as of late, where injuries have stolen him from the floor where he belongs. He hasn’t played more than 60 games in a season since 2020-21, in which he averaged a career-high 31.3 PPG. Judging by the start of this season, it would unfortunately not be surprising if Beal fails to reach 60 games again. He hit the 53 mark last season and 50 the year before.
Will This Superstar Invested Team Reach Their Potential?
When Beal, Durant, and Devin Booker entered last season together as a trio, expectations were championship-esque. However, the Suns roster had flaws, specifically at the point guard position after losing Chris Paul. Tyus Jones was brought in this year to fill that void, and he has fit right in with the team thus far. After starting the season splitting their first two games, Phoenix went on a seven-game win streak, which teased just how good this team could be this season.
Then, KD went down, and subsequently, Beal also went down. Booker was left to carry the team, and as great and electric as he is, the Suns have lost three in a row. Suffice it to say, the Suns will not go anywhere without that trio playing together, especially Durant and Booker. Phoenix made some good moves in the offseason to bolster their depth and bench, which was what was missing last season. On paper, Phoenix is a championship-caliber team. However, paper doesn’t win games, bodies do. Right now, the Suns are down two highly critical bodies.
It’s presently unclear when Beal will return to play. What bodes well for him and the Suns is that after Wednesday’s matchup with the New York Knicks, the team is off for five days. The extended time off should give Beal some much-needed time to recover from his calf ailment. The season is still early, and to completely sour on the Suns at this point could be presumptuous. That being said, this season will mirror last if Beal cannot stay healthy because as great as KD and Booker are, Beal is that third star, and his contribution is absolutely needed.
