No matter the question asked, performance good or bad, win or loss, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal starts every postgame press conference with the same eight words:
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“First, praise my lord and savior Jesus Christ.”
Through the ups and downs of an NBA season — this Suns one in particular, where he has gone through injuries, trade rumors and been relegated to the bench — Beal has always leaned on his faith to guide him when the path ahead seems uncertain.
After leading the Suns in scoring for the second time (25 points) in his third game as their sixth man in a 123-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, Beal talked about just how difficult these last few weeks have been for him mentally and how his faith has kept him unperturbed.
“It’s been more of a distraction than anything,” Beal said. “I’m big in faith. For those who are big in faith with me, First Corinthians 15:58, that’s what got me through everything. If you go read that, you’ll probably understand why (I’m) at peace, (I’m) in a good mode.
“Don’t get wavered, man. Adversity happens, things happen. You control what you can control. Just trying to impact being positive on a daily basis.”
"I think it has been more of a distraction."
While there is a lot of the outside noise talking about Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) going to the bench, Beal isn't bothered by the decision.#SunsUp #NBA #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/fB1CoAQOWh
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) January 10, 2025
Beal has done just that. Remained professional and controlled what he does on the court. Blocking out the noise amidst the Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat debacle and being removed from the starting lineup along with estranged and much-maligned teammate Jusuf Nurkic.
This verse has been guiding him in overcoming all of these distractions:
“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
The three-time All-Star is averaging 18.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 26 games this season. Since being moved to the bench three games ago, those numbers have jumped up to 20.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 59.1/38.5/75.0 shooting splits.
Moving to the bench after being a starter for basically your entire career isn’t a move that one becomes accustomed to overnight. It takes time to adjust and Beal is still in that adjustment period.
“Everything,” Beal said on what has changed in this new role. “My preparation is totally different now. It just is, you don’t start the game off so you’ve got to make sure you’re ready to go by the time your name is called.”
When such a drastic move like this happens, how did he react?
“I literally looked at coach and said, ‘OK,'” he said. “I’m not going to argue. (He) made (his) decision. So it’s up to coach.”
"I'm not going to argue, you made your decision."
Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) on what the conversation was like with head coach Mike Budenholzer about going to the bench.#SunsUp #NBA #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/RCWQ5NPTC6
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) January 10, 2025
Beal and the Suns are looking for any way to right the ship on what has been a disappointing turn of the season. Since starting 8-1 and sitting atop the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder (at the time), Phoenix has spiraled down to the 12-seed an gone 9-18 since.
They didn’t just forget how to play basketball, though. This fall is a result of many factors, what with losing all members of their Big Three for multiple games at different stretches. Beal and Kevin Durant have missed 10 games apiece and Devin Booker has missed five.
The injuries to the entire roster — and the losses that came with — were compounded by this Butler-Phoenix saga that dragged Beal in trade conversations more than any Sun. But even then he remains unbothered, because he has a say in any trade he’s involved in because of his no-trade clause. Beal is one of two players in the NBA (LeBron James) that has this stipulation in their contracts.
“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards,” Beal said on the prospect of being traded. “Until I’m addressed and somebody says something different, then I’ll be a Sun.”
WATCH: Bradley Beal glad about Suns win over Hawks, talks new bench role
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
