WASHINGTON — With Washington as hot as any team in the NBA, Wizards guard Bradley Beal has grown weary of hearing questions about his relationship with backcourt mate John Wall.
In an appearance on ESPN Radio’s NBA Insiders, Beal was asked about how his relationship with Wall is after entering the season under the microscope.
“I think it’s (going) well,” Beal said in the Sunday interview. “I think it’s (going) really well. It’s kind of getting old, people saying that we don’t agree and that we don’t click. We’re just going out and proving it on the floor.”
Washington (27-20) got off to a rocky 2-8 start under new coach Scott Brooks and was 6-12 on Dec. 2. Some wondered whether Wall and Beal, considered to be one of the top up-and-coming backcourts the past several seasons, would reach their potential together, especially after comments Wall made about their relationship months earlier.
In August, Wall admitted there’s often been friction between the two pillars of the organization.
Bradley Beal says he hopes to erase any lingering doubts about his relationship with John Wall via the Wizards’ surging play. “We consider ourselves the best backcourt in the league,” Beal said.
“I think a lot of times we have a tendency to dislike each other on the court,” Wall said in a sit-down interview with CSN’s Chris Miller. “We got to be able to put that to the side. If you miss somebody on one play or don’t have something go right … as long as you come to each other and talk. If I start arguing with somebody, I’m cool. I’m just playing basketball.
“Now that you have your money, you got to go out there and improve your game,” Wall added of Beal, who signed a five-year max contract worth $128 million during the summer. “I want you to be an All-Star just as much as I’m an All-Star. If we were playing well as a tandem like the other two superstars that play together as a backcourt (the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson) … one night it’s going to be his night, one night it’s going to be mine, some nights it might be both of us. Those are nights it’s going to be tough to beat us.”
After the slow start, Washington has been steadily rising in the standings. The Wizards are 21-8 since Dec. 5 and have won 10 of their last 12 games entering Tuesday’s game against the Knicks in Washington, where they have won 14 straight.
Wall is averaging career highs of 22.9 points, 10.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 46.2 percent shooting. Beal is also having a career season, averaging 21.8 points on 46.0 percent shooting.
While Wall earned his fourth straight All-Star appearance, Beal was left off the Eastern Conference team.
Beal, who has largely remained healthy this season and has credited Brooks with allowing him to handle the ball more, was asked if he was disappointed to not make the All-Star Game with his backcourt mate of the past five seasons.
“It’s a yes-and-no answer,” Beal said. “I can be upset about it and pout about it. But it’s not the end of the world. It is not why I play the game. I play the game because I love it. Do I want to be an All-Star? For sure.”
“I’m happy for John,” Beal continued. “This is his fourth in a row and he continues to support the city as he can and continues to show love. His efforts and his point-guard skills have gotten better ever since I’ve been playing with him. It’s definitely been a joy and a pleasure. As far as me, it’s a yes-and-no answer — I am a little upset (about not being named an All-Star) but it’s not the end of the world. I continue to move on.”
And Beal certainly hopes to erase any lingering doubts about his relationship with Wall via his and the Wizards’ surging play.
“We have fun and compete at a high level,” Beal said of Washington’s star duo. “We consider ourselves the best backcourt in the league, so we just continue to prove ourselves, continue to compete and hold each other accountable and make sure that we continue to lead our team.”
Courtesy: ESPN.com
