A teenaged Beal, at the behest of his mother, would begin each basketball season with a note to himself, writing long-term goals on a piece of paper. He’d scribble how many points he wanted to average, how many wins he envisioned, what tournaments he hoped to dominate. The venture wasn’t finished once pen departed paper.

The Phoenix Suns made a move for All-Star guard Bradley Beal in the 2023 offseason, hoping to build a big three around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Unluckily for the Suns, Beal has not been able to stay on the court.