Clippers Experiment on Three-Time All-Star Already Raising Red Flags
The Los Angeles Clippers believed they were adding a proven scorer when Bradley Beal joined the team this offseason. After trading away last year’s breakout star Norman Powell, the front office saw Beal as a veteran who could bring an offensive spark to a lineup built around star power. The idea sounded great on paper: a seasoned scorer who could stretch the floor, create his own shot, and bring leadership to a veteran locker room. Reality, however, has been far less inspiring, leaving many fans questioning if this version of Beal is still capable of living up to the name that once carried All-NBA weight.
Through five games, Beal has managed just 37 points on 39 field goal attempts, an output that feels worlds away from his days as one of the league’s elite scorers. Each performance has looked disjointed, marked by poor shot selection and missed opportunities to establish rhythm. Confidence seems shaken, and the explosive first step that once made Beal so dangerous appears dulled by time and mileage. There’s a sense that the Clippers are waiting for something that may never fully return, the player who once carried an entire franchise in Washington.
The harsh truth for Los Angeles fans is that this may not just be a slow start. The 2025 version of Bradley Beal could simply be a different player, less dominant, more streaky, and limited to short bursts of offensive production. Expecting 20-point nights might no longer be realistic. Even 15 points per game could be a stretch if efficiency doesn’t improve soon. What’s left is a player who still carries the confidence of a star but no longer produces like one. That gap between perception and performance has been glaring, especially during the Clippers’ sluggish 3-5 start to the season.
There’s also the uncomfortable context of Beal’s arrival. Players who land on the buyout market are rarely still in their prime, and Beal’s case is no exception. The move raised eyebrows across the league, signaling that perhaps Phoenix had seen enough. When Suns fans booed him in his first return to Phoenix, the message was loud and clear: the shine has worn off. The box scores might show serviceable numbers from his time there, but the atmosphere told a different story: frustration and unmet expectations.
For Beal, this is a pivotal moment. His name still carries weight, but that alone won’t keep fans or teammates satisfied. To avoid becoming another cautionary tale of a star fading too soon, he must adapt, find new ways to contribute, whether through playmaking, defense, or veteran leadership. The Clippers don’t need the 2021 Beal anymore; they need a version that fits who he is now. The question is whether that version exists, or if Los Angeles is watching the twilight of what was once a brilliant career.
