Injuries haven’t done any favors to Bradley Beal throughout his basketball journey. The talented shooting guard has unfortunately been plagued by numerous setbacks, and even after his trade from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns, the injury bug continues to haunt him.
Beal, who missed the first seven games of the season due to lower back tightness, finally made his highly anticipated debut for the Suns in November. However, it appears that his back concerns have resurfaced, causing concern among fans and the Suns organization and quite a bit of tension among the team.
Bradley Beal injury update
Bradley Beal, the Phoenix Suns guard, suffered a right ankle injury during the first quarter of Friday night’s game against the New York Knicks.
Beal, who landed on the foot of the Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo after making a 3-point shot, was called for a Flagrant-1 foul on him as DiVincenzo didn’t provide Beal with a space to land. Beal was in considerable pain but managed to make a free throw before heading to the locker room.
This setback adds to Bradley Beal’s injury-plagued season, having already missed a significant portion due to a sore back. The Suns, who have been dealing with injuries to other key players, might have to cope without Beal as well. The team’s coach, Frank Vogel, confirmed that Beal’s X-rays came back negative, suggesting a sprained ankle.
âInjuries are a part of the game. Iâm disappointed for him. You could see the disappointment on his face in the back.” Vogel said.
Bradley Beal, a three-time NBA All-Star, was playing in his sixth game of the season after being traded from the Washington Wizards. The Suns currently hold the tenth seed in the Western Conference with a 13-11 record, and they have struggled with injuries affecting their star players. Despite the setbacks, the team remains optimistic about Beal’s recovery and is focused on keeping his spirits up during this frustrating season.
Even his teammate, Kevin Durant, who has gone through similar phases, had a few encouraging words for his teammate.
Kevin Durant reacts to Bradley Beal injury
After Bradley Beal’s latest injury, Kevin Durant was asked about the unfortunate event and whether the Phoenix Suns felt snakebitten.
In response, Durant dismissed the notion of luck, stating, “Bad luck? You believe in that? I donât even look at life that way. Shit happens, thatâs a part of it. Brad, we got a great training staff, he got great support behind him.”
Bradley Beal had missed 19 out of the first 22 games due to a low back strain and made a comeback earlier this week. However, he was forced to exit the game after a hard fall when he landed on Jusuf NurkiÄâs foot following a tight closeout by Donte DiVincenzo. Durant remained optimistic about Beal’s recovery, emphasizing the team’s support system, saying, “We got great training staff, heâs got great support behind him. Heâll be back out there.”
Addressing the team’s mindset following the injury, Durant expressed a mix of disappointment and determination, stating, “Obviously, everybodyâs little pissed off, sad that he didnât finish the game, and he twisted his ankle. But heâs a strong-minded player, person, and just get ready for rehab and looking forward to having him back.”
Despite the setback, Durant who himself is quite similar to the “injury realm”, delivered an impressive performance, scoring 29 points, six assists, and making zero turnovers in the loss to the Knicks. The Suns allowed their highest point total of the season, with the Knicks managing to score 139 points.
Reflecting on the game, Durant acknowledged that injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, but the team will remain resilient. He said, “No negative feelings, it is next man up. This is pro sports, we’ve been a part of it for a long time. Guys get injured, shit happens.”
While the injury to Beal presents a challenging situation, Durant expressed confidence in his teammate’s ability to handle it, concluding, “He’s a strong-minded player, person, and just get ready for rehab and looking forward to having him back. So itâs a tough situation, but he could deal with it.”
While the injury is significant, the Suns are hopeful that Beal will make a swift recovery and return better than ever. The team will rally together and continue to strive for success this season, maintaining a “next man up” mentality. Despite the challenges they face, Durant remains optimistic and confident in their ability to face adversity head-on.
