PHOENIX – In his return to the Valley, former Phoenix Suns and current Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal had a performance to forgot on Thursday. While being serenaded with boos all night, Beal would shoot 2-for-14 from the field, scoring five points and being a -23. Despite the terrible production and the loss, Beal took the time to look at the positives in his new scenery by also taking a shot at the Suns coaching staff in his time in Phoenix.
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Clippers guard Bradley Beal (0) looks up at the scoreboard as he plays against the Suns during a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 6, 2025.
Beal on Suns coaches misusing him in Phoenix:
“When you allow me to be that guy, I’ll be that. 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 said to The Athletic’s Law Murray on Thursday. “When’s the last time I shot 14 shots for the Suns?”
Nov 6, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (0) against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
To answer Beal’s question, last year the three-time all-star had 25 games out of 53 where he shot the ball 14+ times under head coach Mike Budenholzer. The 32-year-old did have three games playing 15 minutes or less in the 2024-2025 season, meaning he shot 14 shots in 50% of the games he played for the Suns.
In those 25 games, Beal shot 51.2% from the field, with Phoenix going 8-17 in those instances. The .320 winning percentage is worse than the teams overall winning percentage last year, which was .439 (36-46). When Beal shot less than 14 shots a game, the franchise was 14-14.
Nov 6, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (0) against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The stats don’t support Beal’s claim, especially with Thursday being his first game as a Clipper to shoot 14 shots. Regardless, during his postgame press conference, Beal kept it cordial talking about this wasn’t a revenge game for him and has no ill-will towards Phoenix, as he looks to move on in his new home.
Bradley Beal gets ruthless reactions from Suns fans in return to Phoenix
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
