Rookies find it very difficult to avoid the unavoidable rookie responsibilities that are “graciously” assigned to them by the veterans of their squad. After more than ten years in the NBA, Bradley Beal is now in charge of assigning these “duties.” It’s safe to assume that Oso Ighodaro of the Suns was the target of it.
The Marquette graduate described how Beal had been making him and the other rookies wear “pink sparkly backpacks” in an interview with Suns reporters. For rookies, carrying the rest of the team’s bags is practically a rite of passage, and players like Oso and Ryan Dunn appear to be up for the challenge.
“We gotta carry those pink backpacks around. Brad was up here talking about his list of duties for us. He got the snacks for us but he put them in pink sparkly backpacks.”
“Brad has been a great vet other than the backpack.”
Backpack?
“We’ve got to carry those pink backpacks around. … He got the snacks for us, but he put them in pink sparkly backpacks we have to carry around.”
Oso Ighodaro on Bradley Beal’s duties for the Suns rookies. #Suns pic.twitter.com/dgaXNZJiDf
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 11, 2024
These bags were noticed by the Phoenix Suns X account, which also featured them on social media. Seeing rookies handle these occasions with their veterans with grace is refreshing.
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 6, 2024
As Oso often lauded Bradley Beal for his leadership, it isn’t all hazing between the veterans and the rookies.
“They’re [Bradley and Tyus Jones] always there for us. Never get frustrated with us. Hearing that like ‘good play rook’, something like that when you get in the game, means a lot.”
The Suns are undoubtedly more motivated going into the 2024–25 season. Beal also talked about this, stating that the atmosphere was entirely different from the previous year. Mike Budenholzer’s new staff, the addition of young people, or possibly both could be to blame for this. Whatever it is, it appears to be effective.
