Bradley Beal embraced the new challenge of coming off the bench for the Phoenix Suns, despite his reluctance to accept this role. On a night where he played as a substitute for the first time in nine years, Beal led his team with 25 points, helping to break a four-game losing streak with a 109-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Suns had been trailing by 12 points early in the game but surged ahead to secure the win, marking their second success in nine outings. Beal contributed significantly, scoring 20 points in the crucial second half.

Post-game, the 31-year-old expressed respect for Coach Mike Budenholzer’s decision to change the lineup, yet he reaffirmed his belief that he is a starter in the league. “Coach made his decision. Live with it,” Beal declared during his interview with AZCentral.com. “I’m a starter in the league. I firmly believe that. No disrespect to anybody, but I’m a starter. … I’ll be a Sun until I’m told otherwise.”

Beal’s last stint as a bench player was during the 2015-16 season while recovering from an injury with the Washington Wizards. Coach Budenholzer also moved Jusuf Nurkic to a reserve position following a three-game suspension.

“I feel like we needed to make a change,” Budenholzer explained. “We just felt like we needed to make a change. They want what’s best for the team. I have a lot of respect for them.”

Despite the changes, Beal’s performance resembled that of a starter, providing pivotal plays and scoring for both himself and his teammates. When speculation about a trade arose, Beal confidently stated, “If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards.” He emphasized his no-trade clause, asserting his commitment to the Suns until otherwise informed.