Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Devin Booker On His Frustration When He Needs To Share Ball With Kevin Durant And Bradley Beal
With Bradley Beal coming off the bench and Kevin Durant still out injured, Devin Booker has taken on more of a ball-handler role for the Suns. Speaking after their 123-115 win over the Hawks, Booker spoke about Beal coming off the bench. He noted that what Beal experienced prior to being benched is something he deals with often, which is the frustration of having to share the ball with two other All-Stars.
"He understands his spots in that lineup, he understands it's his job to be aggressive. It can be a little frustrating when we're all out there. I go through it sometimes, too. You take 2 shots in a row and you're like, 'I'm out there with K and Brad. I need to get them involved.' Not having that on your conscious and just getting to play free can do a lot for anybody..."
Booker continued further when asked how Beal handled the transition to coming off the bench. He praised his teammate for his professionalism since being given this new role. Booker added that Beal has done a great job taking Ryan Dunn under his wing and helping him as a starter.
"[He's handled it] like a true professional. He's embraced Ryan [Dunn], he's communicating with Ryan. I don't know what they've been saying but you can see the relationship is there. And obviously, it's not an easy move for him or anybody to be in that situation. We all have a job, he continues to go out there and do it. Big ups to him..."
With Beal now coming off the bench and primarily playing with the second unit, Booker now has the freedom to play the brand of basketball he wants to. And against the Hawks, he played well, putting up 20 points (9-21 FG), 12 assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
As for Bradley Beal, he had another great showing off the bench, with 25 points (11-16 FG), seven rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block. Clearly, the move to the bench has worked out for the best, and the Suns have been able to reap the benefits from his performances off the bench.
Beal himself spoke about struggling with the big three, and whether that played a part in the decision to bring him off the bench. The Suns All-Star played coy and refused to answer the question, telling reporters to ask Mike Budenholzer, as he didn't know about the decision.
"I'm just playing the game, brother. I'm not thinking that deep into it. I don't know, you're going to have to ask Bud [Budenholzer] these questions... No. You gotta ask Bud."
You can read Beal's full comments right here. Despite his trying to be a full professional, the frustration can be felt in the comments. We even saw his anger and unhappiness before the game, as he made a stern face and walked past the Suns huddle.
Beal's future has been a subject of great debate, but we don't know for sure where he will end up. Stay tuned to Fadeaway World for the latest updates on this saga, other trade rumors, and elite NBA analysis.
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