For Bradley Beal, winning a championship with the Wizards would be more rewarding due to the adversity he has faced in recent years, he told Laura Schreffler of Forbes.com. Beal has opted to stay loyal to Washington, signing a five-year, $251MM deal with the team this summer.
“People always look at me like I’m crazy, but I have a huge desire to want to make it work here and win here,” Beal said. “This is the team that drafted me. They’re super loyal, I have a great relationship with ownership, and a great relationship with our front office.
“Plus, there’s not a lot of chances in the careers of NBA players to be notated as the franchise guy, you know? To be able to have that opportunity, to be able to be in a position to where I can write my own story, that’s everything.”
Beal has spent his entire 10-year career to date with the Wizards. Despite feeling pressure from some fans to request a trade, the 29-year-old has remained focused on winning a title with the Wizards.
“I feel like if I win a championship here in DC, the grind of it, with everything I’ve been through, all the adversity and ups and downs, that would make a win that much sweeter, makes me appreciate it that much more,” Beal explained. “And I do love the grind, and to sometimes go against the odds.”
There’s more from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington examines five things analytics say about Monte Morris‘ game. The Wizards acquired Morris and Will Barton from the Nuggets this offseason, sending away Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. Morris is expected to start at point guard for Washington.
- While the Nets have been rumored as a possible suitor for Donovan Mitchell, members of the organization like Brooklyn’s roster and don’t feel a sense of urgency to pursue Jazz guard, Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports. With Kevin Durant and the Nets recently agreeing to move forward together, it doesn’t seem like Brooklyn will be eager to make a major trade ahead of the season — even though Mitchell listed Brooklyn as a trade preference.
- Nets center Nic Claxton knows his time is now, according to NetsDaily. With Brooklyn allowing Andre Drummond to sign with the Bulls — and LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin no longer on the roster — Claxton has an opportunity to establish himself at center. The Nets may test Ben Simmons at the five, but Claxton can still be valuable as a rebounder, rim protector, screen-setter and lob threat at 6’11”.
Donovan’s more likely to go to the other side of NYC. The Nets are not looking to move Ben now. They’ll probably bring in another big with either the vet’s minimum or all or part of the T-MLE.
I just don’t see Mitchell going to the Nyets, since he’s a good guy and Coachable. He doesn’t fit in the Durant/Irving mold. The Nyets are not a Championship team. They will continue to win nothing. I doubt Cancer Irving spends the whole season in Brooklyn, especially when he decides to go AWOL again. Prediction: by the trading deadline he’s gone.
Terrible assessment of the nets. Top 5 team. Two elite players in KD and Kyrie. Gifted young athletic top 3 defensive player in Ben Simmons, young progressing center in claxton deep talented bench. You could coach them even with a complete lack of basketball understanding .
I’ve never seen so much Dysfunction, that’s on the Nyets in my life. Nobody likes Simmons after his time in Philadelphia. Wait till he see’s how things are in Brooklyn. He will want out quickly, the way Harden wanted out. Cancer Irving is worse then Simmons. The Nyets couldn’t even trade KD, he was almost off the hook. Smh
Someone drug test Bradley Beal.
Win a championship in DC hahahah
Cmon Beal that’s never going to happen, you stayed for the money and I don’t blame you.
Maybe he just likes DC, I know he’s paid for several playgrounds and community courts. We complain that there’s no loyalty anymore then guys like Beal and Dame get drug through the mud constantly.
That’s fine, but it’s a BS take/statement by him. Wizards will barely sniff playoffs during his contract.
People said the same thing about Kobe after they traded Shaq. How did that work out? For him to say he hopes to stay and win in Washington is a BS statement? That he shows loyalty to a team in a place he feels comfortable? Then when players leave in free agency it’s “they weren’t loyal enough” or “had to take the easy way” or “this never would have happened if it were Jordan” Those are far more BS statements. Basically no matter what these players do there is going to be some troll bitching about you on the internet for the choice you made in your own life.
Beal ain’t Bean brother
Did I say he was? Just used one example. The real point was that no matter what these players do there will always be people bitching about it.
What’s he supposed to say though? I’m so happy I resigned here. I think we have a real chance to be a play in team for the next 5 years? Of course he’s going to drop the championship platitude.
You guys know how sports work right?
Drug test the GM for giving the NTC first
Claxton is overrated. I don’t see anything special he can bring. He won’t sniff a bucket against guys like Embid, Jokic or Kat. Lamarcus and Blake are in pre retirement mood.
I’ll do Nurkic for Simmons if I’m Sean Marks.
Jusuf bullied Gobert in yesterday WC qualifier game and put on poster of the year tbh.
Nets should’ve kept Dzanan Musa, he was the liga ACB MVP and is turning into a Luka.
Given the last 36 months of the Brooklyn Nets I think Dame and Beal look significantly less crazy than they did before.
Plus the last two champs won w/ home grown stars.
There have been “ups” in Washington for Beal? I do not remember them at all.
The ups were when John Wall was leading the Wiz to the playoffs regularly with Beal as his Robin. Beal hasn’t shown much as the Batman.