Asking a former superstar to step down from a role they are anticipating can lead to an unwanted acceptance, as ninety-nine percent of the time, they have been a starter for as long as they can remember. This usually hurts their ego, as they are confident in their abilities to start on any team in the association.
Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell did the opposite for the Clippers, choosing to prioritize winning over themselves and listening to head coach Tyronn Lue when he requested they find ways to contribute from the bench.
Moreover, the Clippers have certainly strengthened themselves by signing Bradley Beal, another former superstar, who is coming from a rollercoaster era with the Phoenix Suns. Beal efficiently averaged 17.0 points this season, so within his circle, he is an All-Star talent who can quickly return to notching the mid-season honor.
However, the truth is that the Clippers use Beal primarily as a scorer, and similar to Powell, he will be expected to follow the specific tasks Lue assigns him. This is the attitude to have on a team going to war for a championship, and next season, the three-time All-Star will have to make a painful sacrifice he may not want to.
Bradley Beal will have to painfully accept a bench role if that is asked of him by head coach Tyronn Lue
In 2024-25, Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanović proved to be individual winners on the LA Clippers. They were never rewarded with anything, but they consistently demonstrated the same work ethic and dedication through a fluctuating minute count.
These types of gestures are what truly contributed to the Clippers winning fifty games, and to build on their recent success, Bradley Beal will have to be optimistic about being a sixth man next season.
Given that reasonable minutes and shot attempts will still be reserved with Beal’s name, this could work out better for him. He is competing for a more lucrative deal this season, and his mission to strive for a better future will hinge on demonstrating a winning mentality and an active presence with zero character issues, which differentiates him from other former stars.
Additionally, Beal is a subpar defender, and that would make two within the starting lineup next to James Harden. Instead, it would be significantly smarter to start Dunn or Bogdanović and utilize the scoring prowess of the former Washington Wizard in the second unit.