After being diagnosed with a fractured hip, Los Angeles Clippers player Bradley Beal will have hip surgery. Beal will miss the rest of the NBA season due to this injury, which he acquired during a game against the Phoenix Suns.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by the Clippers, the recuperation period is expected to be six to nine months.
Injury Details
Beal suffered the injury on Saturday after he stumbled and fell while trying to take a charge. His absence from the game raised questions about the extent of the injury. During a pregame press conference, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged the situation and voiced concerns about the possible long-term effects on Beal’s health.
Impact On Clippers
Beal’s absence is a significant setback for the Clippers, who currently hold a disappointing 3-7 record this season. Kawhi Leonard, the team’s standout player, is already out due to an ankle sprain. The Clippers had expected Beal to take over a key scoring and playmaking role, especially following Norman Powell’s near-All-Star performance the season before.
In the six games Beal participated in this season, he averaged only 8.7 points, shooting 37.5% from the field, which is a marked decline from his previous performances. Lue had expressed confidence in Beal’s role just a week prior, stating, “He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do. We got to bring him along slow, we got to be smart about it, and we just can’t rush the process.”
Without Beal, Lue must now come up with a new plan, which probably calls for expanding the responsibilities of Kris Dunn and Cam Christie. Three-time All-Star Beal has struggled with injuries throughout his career, including knee surgery in the offseason. Since 2019, he has not played more than 65 games in a season.
With a player option worth £5.6 million for the upcoming campaign, the Clippers acquired Beal for the taxpayer mid-level exception of £5.4 million this season. His continuous injury problems serve as a reminder of the difficulties the squad has in trying to salvage their season without important players.