“ Perhaps I explained myself poorly: I had a lot of fun last year. » We won't go so far as to talk about backpedaling, but Bradley Beal would like to clarify his comments made a few days earlier.
For the back of the Suns, this return to Phoenix takes place under the best auspices. “ For me, the current environment is light years away from what we all experienced last year. It's a new energy. New enthusiasm and passion for the game “, describes the former Wizards leader.
So many less obvious signals from the Suns last year? Bradley Beal's wife recently asked him what his goals were for the upcoming season. “ I said, 'One thing, literally: having fun. I can't tell you the last time…' », does not finish the 31-year-old player, interviewed earlier in the week.
In his personal case, the notion of pleasure last year was largely linked to his physical complications, which forced him to miss 29 games. And thus to sign a fifth season in a row without exceeding the mark of 60 matches played.
“ You're injured, you're trying to get back into rhythm, to adapt to the team. I never really managed to find my feet properly and follow the team. I always felt like I was making up for lost time, and the whole process was frustrating », Qualifies Bradley Beal, admitting to having been “ A little lost “.
Focus on being yourself
This attacker capable of averaging 30 points per game wanted to prove himself at the same time – “ prove that there is a reason why » the Suns bet on him – both by adapting to a team in which bosses Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were already in place.
Not easy with multiple visits to the infirmary. “ We did good things after December, which allowed us to reach the playoffs. But overall, that joy, that energy just wasn't there. I make it my priority », Books Bradley Beal, for whom spending time with his children this summer helped him in this sense.
Another factor likely to fuel internal energy: summer recruits. “ We are delighted with the elements we added », blurted out the back, probably first thinking of Tyus Jones, the manager leader whom the Suns did not have last season. He and Booker will no longer have to take turns at the same time.
“ I'm happy that we're built in a way that I don't have to take on the roles I had last year and I can focus on being Brad. I can be aggressive, I can try to score. I can be the one you know », Warns the three-time All-Star whose points average (18) was the lowest since 2016, but with an efficiency never seen before in his career (51% including 43% at 3-points).
| Bradley Beal | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | W.A.S. | 56 | 31 | 41.0 | 38.6 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
| 2013-14 | W.A.S. | 73 | 35 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 78.8 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| 2014-15 | W.A.S. | 63 | 34 | 42.7 | 40.9 | 78.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2015-16 | W.A.S. | 55 | 31 | 44.9 | 38.7 | 76.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 17.4 |
| 2016-17 | W.A.S. | 77 | 35 | 48.2 | 40.4 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 23.1 |
| 2017-18 | W.A.S. | 82 | 36 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 79.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 22.7 |
| 2018-19 | W.A.S. | 82 | 37 | 47.5 | 35.1 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | W.A.S. | 57 | 36 | 45.5 | 35.3 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 30.5 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 60 | 36 | 48.5 | 34.9 | 88.9 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 31.3 |
| 2021-22 | W.A.S. | 40 | 36 | 45.1 | 30.0 | 83.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | W.A.S. | 50 | 34 | 50.6 | 36.5 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 23.2 |
| 2023-24 | PHX | 53 | 33 | 51.3 | 43.0 | 81.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| Total | 748 | 35 | 46.3 | 37.5 | 82.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 21.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
