Oct 9, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

There was never any denying that if Bradley Beal wanted to rewrite the narrative surrounding his career after two underwhelming years with the Phoenix Suns, he needed a fresh start. However, unlike many players who draw inspiration from established superstars, Beal found inspiration in an unexpected source – Lou Williams. 

In a recent interview, “Big Panda” emphasized how Lou’s trajectory with the Clippers inspired him to join the same franchise, as they dedicatedly focused on basketball, and that is exactly what he required to find his best form once again.

Beal needs to take out a page from Williams’ book

When Williams joined the Clippers at the age of 31, his career appeared to be entering its twilight. Having bounced between multiple franchises and frequently shifting between starting and bench roles, few expected him to rejuvenate his career so dramatically.  However, in his 13th season, Lou delivered his career-best campaign, averaging 22.9 points per game to win his second Sixth Man of the Year award.

He followed it up with another stellar season, wherein he averaged 20.0 points per game to defend his 6MOTY crown. More remarkably, in both those years, Lou remained durable, appearing in at least 75 games.

For Beal, who has been repeatedly criticized for staying unavailable on the court and being incapable of existing alongside superstars, Lou’s story with the Clippers was the perfect motivational factor he needed to join the same franchise and try to chase the same heroics. Given the fact that the media conveniently overlooked him, averaging 17.6 points on 50.5 percent shooting from the field over the past two years combined, Beal stressed how he sought to join the same franchise that uplifted Lou’s career and confidence.

“When I was making my decision, I got a wall of jerseys in my house and I had a Lou Williams-Clippers jersey signed at the bottom, at my house,” Beal recalled on the Clippers’ media day. “And I just said, ‘Clippers? No BS!’ I thought about how you were here, how long you’ve been here, and the career you’ve established here. I’m like, ‘Damn, I ain’t mad at that.’”

Beal needs a massive performance this season

Now, as he transitions into a Clippers environment, Beal is expected to return to what he does best – scoring with precision and consistency, especially as the Clippers’ roster has players who bring in balance, unselfish playmaking and defensive accountability. Put simply, being surrounded by veterans like James Harden and strong defensive personnel like Brook Lopez, Kris Dunn and Ivica Zubac, Beal will no longer carry the burden of making a game-winning impact on both ends of the court. Instead, he will be free to focus purely on his offensive game, where his natural instincts can flourish.

Thus, if the three-time All-Star can stay healthy and maximize his minutes, Beal has every opportunity to re-establish himself as a 20-plus-point-per-game scorer and regain All-Star consideration, and who knows, even be in consideration for individual awards like Lou.

About the author

NBA Writer at Basketball Network

Yakshpat specializes in compiling intriguing takes from NBA talk shows and podcasts, covering old-school stories and the hottest buzz from the league. Before joining Basketball Network, he worked as the Editor-in-Chief and a writer for several sports digital platforms.