Bradley Beal didn’t mince words when asked why he joined the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason.
“I need a ring,” the veteran guard told Tamar Sher of KMOV in St. Louis. “I want one bad. And I feel like I’ve got a new life of rejuvenation for sure, a new hunger. Excited about the opportunity.”
It’s the one glaring absence from Beal’s résumé. The three-time All-Star has racked up scoring titles, a 2020-21 All-NBA nod, and seven seasons averaging 22 or more points per game, but he’s yet to play in the NBA Finals. His most prolific season came in 2020-21, when he poured in 31.3 points per night for the Washington Wizards.
Last year, however, was a far different story. His stint with the Phoenix Suns—intended to form a “superteam” alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker—fell apart quickly. The Suns were swept in the first round in Year 1 of the experiment, then missed the playoffs entirely last season. Injuries limited Beal to 53 games, and his no-trade clause complicated Phoenix’s ability to reshape the roster.
Bradley Beal Wants A Ring, Clippers Curse A Myth?
Once Durant requested a trade to Houston, the Suns hit the reset button. Beal, holding all the leverage with his contract, negotiated a buyout rather than accept a trade to an undesirable situation. That opened the door to pick his next destination. His choice? A veteran-heavy Clippers squad that also boasts Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac.
One of his first moves in Los Angeles was to let Paul keep the No. 3 jersey, a gesture of respect that underscored Beal’s willingness to fit into the group’s culture. “Obviously, everyone wants to have great seasons,” he said, “but it’s a lot easier when you just don’t worry about the season. You just worry about game to game.”
On paper, the Clippers fit Beal’s “win-now” mandate—but skeptics aren’t convinced. At 32, Beal can still score efficiently—he averaged 17 points on 49% shooting and 38% from deep last year—but the Clippers are the oldest team in the NBA. Health questions hang over Leonard, Harden, and Beal himself, and the roster’s athleticism lags behind younger contenders like Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Denver.
And then there’s the franchise’s history. The Clippers have never won an NBA championship, and their playoff runs have often ended in heartbreak. Pair that with the postseason track records of Harden and Chris Paul, and Beal’s decision to chase his first ring in L.A. is, at best, a calculated gamble.
Still, at just $5 million for the season—compared to the $50 million salary Phoenix was paying him—the signing is low-risk for the Clippers and potentially career-defining for Beal. If this group can stay healthy, a deep playoff run isn’t out of the question.
For Beal, it’s a fresh start and perhaps his best chance in years to reach the NBA mountaintop. Whether it ends in champagne or more postseason frustration, he’s made his intentions clear: “I need a ring… I want one bad.”