Bradley Beal has built his reputation in the NBA as a scorer first and foremost. When healthy, he can get buckets at all three levels and carry stretches of offense almost by himself. Defense, though? That’s never really been the part of his game people talk about.
That might change a little with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Bradley Beal arrives in LA after two uneven seasons with the Phoenix Suns, where he struggled to stay on the floor and often looked like a third option behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. In fairness, that Suns roster was built to score, and defense always felt like an afterthought. The Clippers, on the other hand, have spent the past few years priding themselves on toughness and defensive structure. Even as they reshaped the roster this summer, defense still runs through the DNA of guys like Kawhi Leonard, Terance Mann, and Ivica Zubac.
That’s where things get interesting for Bradley Beal. At 32 years old, he’s no longer the centerpiece of a franchise like he was in Washington. He’s also not trying to squeeze into an awkward fit like he did in Phoenix. In LA, he has a fresh start — and sometimes that’s exactly what a veteran needs to unlock another level.
No one’s asking Bradley Beal to suddenly morph into an All-Defensive guard. But if he buys into the Clippers’ defensive system, stays locked in on rotations, and puts in consistent effort, he can at least hold his own on that end. That would be huge, because everyone already knows what he brings offensively.
For the Clippers, the most important thing is keeping him healthy. Beal has played just 53 games in each of the past two seasons. If he can push that closer to 65 or 70, LA’s offense will take a big leap. And if he adds even modest defensive improvement on top of that, it could be the difference between being another “fun playoff team” and being a real contender in the West.
Ultimately, this season is about balance. The Clippers know Bradley Beal is here to score — that’s what he does. But if their culture rubs off on him, and he brings a little more edge defensively, his impact could be much bigger than just points on the board.
