Bradley Beal is struggling greatly with the Los Angeles Clippers this season.
Beal is averaging 7.4 points, 1.4 assists, and 1 rebound on 35.9% shooting and 33.3% shooting from three-point range through five appearances. Although Beal was criticized during his stint with the Phoenix Suns, his numbers are down substantially from the 2024-2025 NBA season, where he recorded 17 points per game.
Despite his present struggles, Beal took time to reflect on his tenure with the Suns and pointed blame at others for his lack of success.
Bradley Beal Calls Out Suns Coaches
Ahead of Beal’s ‘revenge game’ against the Clippers on Saturday, Nov. 9, he spoke about his time in Phoenix with The Athletic’s Law Murray.
The three-time All-Star had two head coaches in his two seasons with the Suns, Frank Vogel (2024) and Mike Budenholzer (2025). It’s clear the 32-year-old did not feel properly used by these two key figures, calling them out when speaking with Murray.
“When you allow me to be that guy, I’ll be that,” Beal told The Athletic. “But when you have two coaches that want you to set screens and play in the dunker, you’re not Brad Beal. You’re somebody else.”
Beal was blasted during his time in Phoenix because he failed to live up to expectations. A guard playing on a five-year, $251 million maximum contract is expected to contribute in more ways than one. Instead, Beal’s two years with the Suns put on display how one-dimensional his game is.
He failed to contribute outside of providing efficient scoring behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. He averaged 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1 steal in his two seasons with the Suns and left much to be desired on the defensive end.
Partial blame can be attributed to the Suns’ front office for believing a backcourt of Beal and Booker could thrive. The two share similar skill sets, so going all in for Beal with sky-high expectations may have been a mistake to begin with.
Vogel and Budenholzer were tasked with turning Beal into a player he simply isn’t.
