Suns Speak on Bradley Beal's Back Injury

The Phoenix Suns are confident Bradley Beal will return soon.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns acquired Bradley Beal in hopes of forming the top trio in basketball with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker along his side. However, injuries have derailed Phoenix's start to the season as both Beal and Booker have missed several games due to injury. 

The Suns initially believed they were going to see all three suit up in last night's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, listing Beal as probable the night prior with head coach Frank Vogel doubling down on his status when meeting with reporters before the game. 

However, Beal's status did a complete 180 in the two hours prior to game time and the star was eventually ruled out with a lingering back injury that's now seen him play in just three of eleven games thus far.

"About the 60 minute mark when we had to report it," said Vogel when asked when the Suns knew about the injury. "He woke up with some residual tightness in the back this morning. We were hoping it would loosen up by game time. But it did not, so we held him out."

The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin reported similar rumblings.

Hearing Bradley Beal's back issues flared up again this morning.

The Suns had a morning shootaround after not practicing Tuesday. #Suns https://t.co/lRKV0mrpqv

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 16, 2023

"They're working diligently on getting it corrected, getting it right. It's not gonna be perfect - backs are tricky. So it was unexpected. He had some tightness so it was a good call that he did not play, and they got a good plan to try to get him back in action," said Vogel. 

The Suns are 5-6 thus far and have a two-game road trip in Utah this weekend. Perhaps Beal's back will be good to go then. 

"It's tough man. Just like I said, nobody wants to miss any games, especially when you're the best in the game and you want to prove it every night and something's holding you back," said Devin Booker. 

"So he's just trying to get right. He's taking all the steps, he's in there early every day in his treatment. We're gonna rally behind him, keep his morale high and make sure he's in good spirits until we get him back on the court."