Tonight was not the night Bradley Beal was hoping to have. As the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Phoenix Suns 115-102, the shooting guard had his worst outing of the season, shooting just 2-14 from the field, looking like the boos from the arena were getting to him. During the post-game conference, however, he revealed that while the game might have been about payback for Suns fans, for Beal, it was something else entirely.

“It was another game,” Beal said when asked what it felt like to face the Suns again. “I think y’all probably gonna blast a little bit more than I am, but it was another basketball game.” His tone was calm, clashing sharply with the emotion in the Mortgage Matchup Center as the crowd was filled with Suns fans who booed him every time he touched the ball, clearly indicating that his unsuccessful tenure with the team had left a lasting impression.

Beal didn’t seem to engage with it this time, despite his previous willingness to stoke the flames. Back in July, following his buyout, he posted a cryptic Instagram post filled with pictures of him from his time with the team, captioned with just a single emoji: “✌🏾.” No message, no tribute, but an emoji that perfectly described what separation felt like for both Beal and Phoenix.

Tonight, however, he insisted upon patience, explaining why he performed poorly. “I’m still finding my rhythm on the team… So this is all just like building blocks and stepping stones for me. Obviously, we’re in the season, so we’ve got to still execute and hit shots and get wins at the end of the day. But I’m not worried about any other team or nothing.” He seemed confident that the team would eventually find its way, especially after having such a poor shooting night himself.

He added, “I’m worried about my health, my teammates, making sure that I’m out there at the best of my abilities, and I can contribute in any way I can.” Beal’s focus on health is not unfounded. The Clippers are a veteran squad that needs to be deployed with care, considering the injury histories of forward Kawhi Leonard and Beal.

Both Leonard and Beal have had major injuries in the last two years, with the guard undergoing a procedure on his right knee, and has had to manage it by periodically sitting out games to make sure it doesn’t become a long-term issue. Leonard and guard James Harden both missed tonight’s game; Leonard was dealing with an ankle injury, and Harden was out due to personal reasons.

Bradley Beal Brushes Off Boos From Phoenix, Focuses on Growth and Health

Bradley Beal answered decisively when asked about the constant booing from fans. Talking to reporters post-game, he said, “You got fans that didn’t like me here. You got fans that liked I was here. You can’t please everybody. At a very young age, you drive yourself crazy trying to make everybody happy.” It was a textbook veteran response, speaking more to experience instead of emotion. He’s not chasing approval or trying to ignite controversy to prove a point.

Beal chose gratitude over the boos, saying, “I’ve enjoyed playing for this organization. They made a decision to move on. It is what it is. I don’t have any hard feelings. People are going to move. It’s part of the game. It’s part of being a fan.” He spoke to the very idea of fandom: fans care about their teams, and when things don’t go their way, it can be painful. The Suns, who had hoped to be championship contenders last year, finished 36-46, and the fans chose to blame it on a redundant roster construction, built around mid-range dominant scorers, of which Beal was one.

Now, after a potential revenge game, Beal chose quiet professionalism. He summarized his feelings with a smile and a simple phrase: “I’ll see you Saturday.” Now, as the Suns face the Clippers in LA on Saturday, Beal doesn’t seem to be holding onto the past, but looking ahead instead.