Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beale issued a big statement about his position among NBA shooting guards in 2019.
Bradley Beal has been an easy target for key NBA fans since it was traded with the Phoenix Suns in the summer of 2023.
After all, the veteran security guard struggled to regain his form from his days with the Wizard of Washington.
Speaking of his time in Washington, Beale once made massive claims about his position among the league’s top shooting guards.
During his tenure with the Houston Rockets, few players were better than James Harden. After all, he won the 2018 NBA MVP Award for LeBron James.
Clearly, Harden was considered the best shooting guard in the league. But who was in second place? Well, Beal claimed in 2019 that he deserved that title.
“I feel like I’m behind James (Harden). I’m the best shooting guard in the league, and my numbers might show that.
He added: “I think that hurts in many ways (the All-NBA case), but in terms of individual success, I feel like I’m there.”
In the context, Beal averaged 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the Wizard during the 2018-19 NBA season.
He nodded to the NBA All-Star team, but the Wizard finished the season with a 32-50 record.
Fast forward to 2025, and Beale could potentially join forces with Harden in the Los Angeles Clippers.
NBA Rumor Mill suggests that Beal will soon negotiate the acquisition of the deal with Suns, becoming an unlimited free agent.
Beale can join any team in the league, but if it was bought with the Suns, he was flipped over to sign the Clippers.
The main reason behind this is the fact that the Clippers recently traded Norman Powell for the Miami Heat as part of a three-team deal.
As a result, they need talented security guards who can form a solid backcourt with Harden. There are few players who are appearing in the open market and could claim to be better than beer.