Bradley Beal believes the Phoenix Suns would have finished atop the Western Conference standings had he been fully available during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Speaking on the “Run Your Race” podcast, Beal addressed how his absence affected the Suns’ season. “I missed 30 games and we won 49 games,” Beal said. “If I played half of them games, we are the number 1 seed in the West.”
Beal, who was acquired by the Suns in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards in June 2023, faced several injury setbacks in his first season with Phoenix. He missed the first seven games due to lower back tightness and ultimately appeared in only 53 out of 82 regular-season games.
Despite those absences, the Suns managed to secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference, avoiding the play-in tournament. Beal averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game during his limited action. His role in the team’s success was significant, but Beal firmly believes that his full presence would have changed the team’s fortunes.
Beal’s confidence in the Suns’ potential with him healthy stems from the team’s overall performance when he was available. Throughout the season, Phoenix struggled with inconsistent play due to injuries to key players, including Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant. The Suns’ highly anticipated “Big Three” didn’t get much time together on the court until mid-December, which disrupted the team’s rhythm early in the season.
Beal pointed out how his presence would have bolstered Phoenix’s performance, stating that they could have finished at the top of the Western Conference standings. The Suns, under first-year head coach Frank Vogel, had a strong roster but couldn’t fully capitalize on it due to health setbacks.
Beal’s assertion comes as the Suns look to regroup for the next season, with hopes of their star trio playing more consistently together. While Phoenix had notable wins during the season, including a dominant performance over the then-top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, their early struggles, particularly in the fourth quarter of games, cost them critical wins.
