Bradley Beal is unlikely to play in the Phoenix Suns’ season opener versus the Golden State Warriors, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Beal is dealing with a back injury and the Suns are being cautious with their new star guard.
Since it’s the first game of the season, there is no reason for the Suns to play Beal if he’s not 100%. Phoenix can still beat Golden State without Beal since Kevin Durant and Devin Booker will be in the lineup.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors Updates
Beal averaged 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season in 50 games for the Washington Wizards while shooting 50.6% from the field, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 84.2% from the free-throw line. The Suns acquired Beal from the Wizards in a blockbuster trade during the offseason.
A three-time All-Star, Beal has career averages of 22.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. The Florida product waived his no-trade clause to land with the Suns after the Miami Heat told him they couldn’t acquire him.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors Updates
“I’m like, ‘OK, what’s Miami doing? Dragging feet.’ And eventually it came to a point to where Miami said they just can’t do it,” Beal wrote in a diary for Andscape. “But it was an eye-opener for sure. And that’s why I said I went into everything kind of open-minded and with an open slate. And out of nowhere here comes a dark horse in Phoenix and their aggressiveness pushed me over the top.”
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