Washington Wizards: The evolution of Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal is reaching new heights offensively for the Washington Wizards. He’s diversifying his game to make him even more of an unarguable player than before.

Bradley Beal has always been a bit of a polarizing player in the NBA. It was never about whether he could play or not, but rather whether he could stay healthy and when healthy, could he bring his game to the next level? In the summer of 2016, Bradley Beal signed a five-year max contract worth $127 million.

While many were happy to keep such a promising talent, an equal amount questioned the Washington Wizards locking up their limited cap space for the next five years on a player who had played more than 63 games in a season only once in four years. But the Wizards knew what they had in Beal, a gifted shooter with the potential to become a top level talent in the NBA.

Now, sitting about a fourth of the way into the 2017-18 NBA season, the gamble on Bradley Beal feels like a no-brainer. Since his contract, he has only gotten better as a player. In the 2016-17 NBA season, Beal posted career highs in minutes, points, field goals, 3-pointers, field goal percentage and assists. He also played 77 games that season, his most minutes in an NBA season by far.

But this isn’t about Beal’s massive increases last year, but rather about the subtle changes he’s made to his game that have made him the most important player the Washington Wizards have on their team this season.

In the first 20 games of the 2017-18 NBA season, Bradley Beal has actually shot fewer 3-pointers and at a worse percentage than last year. He’s averaging 1.2 fewer 3-pointers per game and he’s making them at a 2.3 percent less efficient clip than last year. But the surprising figure is that his scoring has gone up from 23.1 points per game to 23.2 per game. So how is this happening?

Bradley Beal is evolving as a player. He’s not just an outside shooter anymore, but rather, a diverse scorer who can drain 3s off screens, drive to the hoop and make you foul him or pump fake hard, drive past you and pull up for an easy bucket.

To fully understand the offensive evolution of Beal we must look at two numbers. The first is that the percentage of shots between 3-16 feet has never been higher in his career. He is taking 27.8 percent of his shots before the restricted area and below the 3-point line.

Why the sudden increase in mid-range shots? Because Beal is playing to what’s open for him. Players know he will kill them from 3 and they’re over compensating. Look at the clip below.

Evan Turner goes over on a pick to make sure Beal doesn’t get an open look from 3, but Beal doesn’t pop out behind the 3-point line, he stays near the elbow and takes a wide open mid-ranger. Turner could’ve contested this shot if he went under, but the fear of Beal’s 3-point shot forced him to go over.

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On top of that, knowing Turner would most likely push out to contest a 3, he steps in and leaves Turner in the dust for an easy two points. It’s small nuances like this that allows Beal to step to the next level offensively.

Another stand-out number is that Bradley Beal’s percentage off of assists is at an all-time low. Since his points per game numbers are only increasing, we can deduct that Beal is creating his own shot more than ever. He’s relying less on his catch-and-shoot numbers to get points, making him even more of a deadly shooter.

Beal’s average distance per field goal attempt is 14.3 feet from the hoop. That’s the closest to the hoop it’s been in the entirety of his career. With the league moving towards more 3-pointers, that stat should be alarming, but Beal’s numbers have only increased.

Next: 2017-18 Week 7 NBA Power Rankings

His ability to score from mid-range, downtown and at the rim make him one of the most deadly scorers in the league. That, paired with the most free throw attempts he’s had in his career, has advanced Beal’s game to another level.