What's happening with Devin Booker, Bradley Beal? Phoenix Suns stars still out with injuries

Devin Booker has only played one regular season game this season.

Bradley Beal has only played one game inside Footprint Center and that was during the preseason.

The Suns will have played four games by the end of Tuesday night and will have yet to display their Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Booker and Beal in the NBA in the regular season.

Booker is working his way back from a left ankle sprain suffered in the season opener at Golden State while Beal is experiencing back spasms after having low back tightness.

When will their starting star guards return?

Let’s address some lingering questions about Booker and Beal.

When will Booker play again?

Booker is closer to returning than Beal.

He’s shown more movement during post practice media viewing that included planting off the left foot and then the right foot before shooting.

The thing with Booker is he went about a week without playing up and down before the opener.

Then he got hurt late in the opener on a drive into the paint, admitted after the game he was “tired as hell” and hasn’t played since.

The Suns had their first practice since the opener Monday after a blackout day Sunday.

So, Booker’s conditioning is in question. His ankle is better, but the Suns will likely ramp him up a little bit before putting him back out on the court for a game.

If Booker doesn’t return for Thursday’s game against the Spurs, there’s a good chance he plays during the three-game road trip that starts Saturday at Philadelphia.

The Suns then play at Detroit on Sunday in the second of a back-to-back. That’s a chance for Booker to play before family and friends as he’s from Grand Rapids. They conclude the road trip Nov. 8 at Chicago.

What about Beal?

Beal was getting up shots and showed some explosiveness in grabbing the rim with two hands during media viewing after Tuesday’s shootaround, but he appears further away from a return than Booker.

Source have informed The Republic that Beal’s back is a concern and there’s no timetable set for his return. Beal hasn’t been right for weeks as he didn’t play in an Oct. 12 preseason game at Portland due to his back. He got in a pregame workout, but wound up not playing.

Now the Suns have said both Beal and Booker are “chomping at the bit” to play, but they haven’t given a definite return for either player.

The back is a very tricky area, too. It can feel great and one bad twist or awkward movement and it’s back to hurting.

The Suns may look to be more cautious with Beal because of that. The worst thing that can happen is to bring him back too soon, the back flares up again and he misses even more time.

Beal played just 50 games last season for the Wizards and 40 games in 2021-22.

Before the injuries

Booker, Durant and Beal have only played two games together and both came in the preseason.

They suited up the preseason opener at Detroit, scored a combined 35 points in the first half and were in street clothes to start the second half.

The Suns led 46-29 after the first quarter. They were playing well off each other, getting their teammates involved and feeling comfortable.

Then they played at home against the Blazers and followed the same pattern – score big in the first half and watch the second half.

Booker, Durant and Beal racked up 49 total points with Booker and Durant each going for 19.

They were even more effective in finding their looks and while Beal didn’t shoot the ball well in going 2-of-7, he attempted nine free throws (made seven).

Then what happened?

Phoenix’s Big 3 was supposed to make one final preseason audition Oct. 19 against the Lakers in Palm Springs. Frank Vogel was looking to play the starters into the third quarter as were the Lakers.

That sounded like fun.

Then Beal, based on what he later said and according to sources, tweaked his back going into the game.

Vogel chose to hold him out as he didn’t want to risk an injury during preseason.

As for Booker, he said he jammed his big left toe in practice and told Vogel it’d be best for him to sit the last preseason game so he could be ready for the Oct. 24 opener at Golden State.

Durant wound up playing, scored 21 points in the first half in his first matchup against LeBron James since Christmas 2018 and the Suns won, 123-100 to finish 4-1 in the preseason.

The regular season opener

Booker wound up playing in the regular season opener, posting 32 points and eight assists with three coming late that led to eight points in Phoenix’s close win against the Warriors.

Beal sat as he was listed with back tightness.

Booker seemed to come out the game OK, but it appears he twisted his left ankle with 2:36 left in the game. On the drive, Booker lost his footing, he fell down, turned the ball over, but kept playing.

The Suns didn’t practice the next day, but Booker went from being listed with a sore big left toe to left foot soreness. He was later diagnosed with a left ankle sprain.

No NBA call

Coach Frank Vogel said the NBA hadn’t contacted them about the status of Booker and Beal as the league put in a new player participation policy focused on having its stars play.

One of the points of emphasis is not having more than two stars out for a game, but the bigger part of the new rule is proving an approved reason for stars missing games.

“They’re injured,” Vogel said when asked if the NBA has contacted the Suns about the injuries.

Booker was due for an MRI. Having the diagnosis go from foot soreness to ankle sprain could raise a red flag, but Booker and Beal aren’t 100%.

What’s next?

Again, Booker appears closer to returning than Beal.

The Suns will look to stay afloat without them both, but they can get by with Durant and Booker leading what has proved to a stronger supporting cast so far than projected.

Phoenix has bought into Vogel’s defensive principles.

As Vogel said, "so far, so good."

There will be another adjustment phase when Beal returns, but the Suns are eager to see their Big 3 in the regular season.

Have opinions about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is happening with Phoenix Suns stars Devin Booker, Bradley Beal?