Bradley Beal’s first season playing for the Phoenix Suns was, without a doubt, a disaster after the Kevin Durant-led team was swept in the first round by Anthony Edwards’ Minnesota Timberwolves. His frustrating year was seen as the cause for his massive fall in ESPN’s NBA player rankings for next season.
Beal’s season with the Suns was marked by both promise and frustration. Acquired in a high-profile trade, Beal was expected to alleviate some offensive pressure from stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. However, injuries and inconsistency hindered his performance. Beal played only 53 games, struggling with lower back issues that sidelined him early in the season and continued to affect his playing time.
Despite these setbacks, Beal displayed leadership qualities that became crucial for the team. He often acted as a vocal presence, emphasizing the need for accountability among his teammates. His shooting statistics were solid—averaging 18.2 points per game with a commendable shooting percentage—but this marked the lowest output of his career since 2015-16. The Suns struggled to find their rhythm, and Beal’s sporadic contributions left fans wanting more.
Defensively, Beal faced challenges, particularly in the postseason. He struggled to contain opponents, notably allowing significant scoring runs when matched against rising stars like Edwards. This defensive inconsistency further complicated his role on the team.
Phoenix Suns’ Bradley Beal and His Massive Drop in ESPN’s Latest NBA Rankings
Before his freefall in the rankings, Beal was among the league’s best 40 players last year. In ESPN’s latest NBA player rankings, the Suns star has sunk big time.
70. Bradley Beal, G, Phoenix Suns
2023 NBA Rank: 37
It was quite the precipitous fall for Beal as he had 51/43/81 shooting splits in his first season with the Suns, but he missed 29 games, prohibiting Phoenix from really finding an identity. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Beal has now missed 130 games because of injury — which is more than Anthony Davis (120) and in the neighborhood of Kawhi Leonard (161) — without taking the hit to his reputation the way those two did. This plummet in the rankings is directly tied to his recent unreliability. If he can stay on the court and help the Suns realize their potential, he, too, will rise again.
The recent rankings of NBA players have sparked discussion, particularly regarding the Phoenix Suns’ star, Bradley Beal. Despite being a three-time All-Star, Beal’s placement has raised eyebrows due to his injury-plagued season and inconsistent performance.
While his leadership qualities and scoring ability remain evident, the expectations surrounding him are high, given his contract. As the Suns aim for a championship run, Beal’s role will be crucial. Moving forward, he must find consistency to help elevate the team’s performance and meet the expectations placed upon him.
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