NBA Fans Clown New Suns Star Bradley Beal Over ‘Two-Way Player’ Comments

New Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is undoubtedly a star in the NBA.

Beal is a three-time NBA All-Star and, at his best, one of the league’s best scorers.

But there are parts to his game that have kept him from making the leap from “star” to “superstar.”

Sure, injuries are in part to blame. But Beal’s game hasn’t expanded much beyond his scoring. He’s a solid but not spectacular creator, and his defense has been a net negative for his entire career.

Apparently, however, nobody told him that.

In a recent interview with Slam Magazine, Beal said that he believed getting “back” to being a two-way star is one of his goals for the 2023-24 season.

“Oh man, it’s tough. I haven’t really thought about my own goals yet, but I would say the biggest individual piece is getting back to being one of the best two-way players in the league,” he said.  Showing that I can really compete at a high level and play a meaningful game. You know, playing in the playoffs, winning in the playoffs, advancing past rounds.

“Granted, I wanna get back to my All-Star level of play. I really believe that that’s who I am: All-NBA guy, All-Star guy. And I have a good group that can push me to be that every single day. So I’m excited about that opportunity. I get to be around like-minded guys and guys who will push me to make sure that I’m the best version of myself every day.”

Of course, getting back to that level means Beal believes he was one at that level. But in 11 NBA seasons, the former Washington Wizards star has only had a positive defensive box plus-minus twice, per Basketball Reference.

So fans were a little befuddled by his comments.

Who knows? Maybe Beal has a defensive renaissance in him at 30 years old in his 12th NBA season. But I wouldn’t exactly go betting on it.