Afrigather 
Featured Columnist IVDecember 25, 2023
Rocky Widner/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
The Phoenix Suns have been nothing wanting an injury-riddled disappointment this season, and the entrance workplace is reportedly feeling the warmth from Kevin Durant.
“Begin with Kevin Durant. You discuss to folks in Phoenix and round that group, you recognize, they’ll really feel the frustration [from] Durant,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski stated Monday on NBA Countdown. “A part of that, actually, is the missed video games for Brad Beal. This crew was constructed round these three stars. The underwhelming supporting solid, that comes from these large trades for Durant and Bradley Beal that basically gutted the group.”
Bradley Beal has performed simply six video games this season and has wildly underperformed his star standing when within the lineup. The Suns are simply 2-4 in Beal’s six appearances, and the crew should wait till January for him to return from an ankle harm.
Beal is averaging simply 14.7 factors, 3.3 rebounds and three.2 assists in his six appearances. The scoring common could be his lowest since his rookie 12 months and practically 9 factors lower than he averaged final season in Washington.
Durant and Devin Booker have continued to play at All-NBA ranges, which makes Beal’s absence and underperformance all of the extra irritating. On a private stage, Durant pushed for Beal to come back to Phoenix, making issues a bit of extra awkward.
“I simply wish to remember on making selections, who must be on the crew, I give my recommendations and enter and hopefully they take it in and worth my opinion,” Durant advised Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports activities. “But when they do not, I nonetheless come to work and do my job.”
The Suns at all times knew they had been constructing one of the top-heavy rosters in NBA historical past. Having solely two of the three stars obtainable makes the entire home of playing cards crumble.
If Beal can keep on the ground for the second half of the season, the Suns ought to flip issues round. If not—or if Durant or Booker goes down—this Suns crew might go down as an costly disappointment.
