Suns guard Bradley Beal missed his sixth straight game on Saturday, but there was an encouraging sign that his debut with the team may not be far off, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Beal, who has been sidelined with lower back spasms, went through a 20-minute workout of dribbling, moving and shooting and was able to end it by repeatedly sprinting from one sideline to the other.
Beal isn’t expected to play in Sunday’s game at Detroit, but the team’s medical staff will see how his back responds to today’s exertion. With two off days to follow, it’s possible that Beal’s first game in a Phoenix uniform could take place Wednesday in Chicago.
“I’m just excited for him. I know how much these dudes love to play,” Kevin Durant said, referring to Beal and Devin Booker, who sat out today’s game with ankle soreness. “They hate just being on the sidelines. We don’t want them to rush. We don’t want them to feel like it’s pressure to come back because we lose a couple of games. We want them to be 100% healthy for the rest of the season. So it’s important now to continue to ramp yourself up however you need to.”
There’s more on the Suns:
- Jusuf Nurkic, who was acquired in a trade just before the start of training camp, continues to have trouble finishing at the rim, Rankin observes in a separate story. He shot 4-of-14 in today’s loss at Philadelphia and is connecting at just 41.7% from the field this season. Nurkic has started shooting more from the outside, with 14 three-point attempts in the last three games after just six in the first three.
- Keita Bates-Diop made his first start of the season as coach Frank Vogel tinkers with his starting lineup, Rankin adds. Bates-Diop, who replaced Josh Okogie in the starting five, delivered eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. Vogel won’t be able to establish a regular rotation until Booker and Beal are playing full time, and it’s possible the fifth slot will keep changing throughout the season.
- In an interview with Shams Charania on “Run It Back” (video link), John Wall said he would welcome the chance to reunite with Beal, his former backcourt partner in Washington. “Me and Brad are still brothers, we still talk a lot,” Wall said. “… If I could join their team, for sure, I would love that.” Wall, 33, has been out of the league since being traded to Houston and subsequently waived in February.
Nurkic was at one time a pretty productive player. Those days are long gone. His legs are done.
True, it’s been apparent for a while now , eubanks is better than him. Ayton trade was a fumble for suns
Yes true but they had the free up some money and nurkic is a stopgap for now. That DeAndre Ayton contract was a hindrance to any roster building for the suns.
Wall deserves to play over Lowry
KD is not the big star that can win on his own. He needs Booker who is the best player on the team not KD.
You’re still salty, we get it.
Saying the truth. Explain why without Booker Suns can’t even beat poor teams? With booker they can beat anyone.
KD can lead a team of his own on talent. His issue is picking guys to team up with. When it came to deciding who to build up the Nets with he picked Kyrie and Harden of all people.
Can KD lead today is a big test going against a team that is not good. KD better lead the team against a much younger team that is not a playoff team
BlackAce, Kevin Durant is a superstar. Devin Booker is also very very good. But there’s a massive difference between leading a team to a championship or to the finals, and being a superstar player.
There’s plenty of Superstar players without rings.
Did Dr. J ever win a ring because he was a superstar? Or did he win a ring because Moses Malone was a leader to the championship?
Michael Jordan needed Phil Jackson to be the leader to the championships. I think Kobe Bryant needed Shaq.
As a bonus here’s my homer take. Steph Curry is a superstar AND a leader to championships.
The objective Observer would have to agree with me, with perhaps an assist from Steve Kerr fixing the offense after Mark Jackson fixed the defense.
Bonus number two, it goes without saying that LeBron James is also in the rare company of a superstar AND a leader. Both.
How many finals appearances did he make in the Eastern conference? Wasn’t it like every year?
Booker’s pretty good but he didn’t do diddly on his own until Chris Paul showed up.
The Phoenix Suns were middle of pack type team that needed a point guard to straighten things out and Chris Paul did that 3 years ago.
That’s when they became Elite. Not because of Devin Booker. He can score but he can’t lead a team to winning basketball.
I feel bad for you Durant. Did all by yourself again. I appreciate you
Did what? Bail on his own team after never getting out of the 2nd rd and force a trade to a team that made the WCF 2 seasons ago?