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Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal’s case for an All-NBA spot

By Daniel Lubofsky

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 09: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards runs down the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on March 9, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 09: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards runs down the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on March 9, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Although the Washington Wizards record isn’t great, Bradley Beal is playing his way into the conversation for a spot on an All-NBA team this season.

After two consecutive playoff appearances including four out of the last five, the Washington Wizards have had a disappointing 2018-19 season, sporting just a 30-40 record, good for 11th best in an Eastern Conference where the eighth seed will likely go to a team with a sub-.500 record.

Injuries have admittedly played a big part in Washington’s struggles. Dwight Howard has appeared in only nine games while All-Star John Wall has been out since late December following heel surgery. This combined with the departure of Otto Porter Jr., Kelley Oubre Jr. and Markeif Morris has kept the Wizards from establishing any sort of rhythm with what was actually a talented group of players.

Through all the chaos has been a single constant in the nations’ capital: Bradley Beal. In this, his seventh season, the former No. 3 overall pick has been producing the best numbers of his career, doing nearly everything he can to keep his team afloat, and in doing so, he’s thrust himself into the conversation for a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams.

Beal had always proven to be a talented young two-guard, but constant injuries early in his career left his full potential in doubt. Only now, he’s on track to play in all 82 games for the second straight season after suiting up in 77 two years ago. It may be safe to say that after some cause for concern, his health issues are a thing of the past.

Beal is averaging career highs across the board with 26.2 points, 5.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game, and yet, since his backcourt mate went down, he’s gotten even more opportunities to function as both a shot-creator and distributor, and he’s taken advantage and produced accordingly.

In the 34 games since Wall went down, Beal has upped his productivity to the tune of 28.7 points, 6.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals a night on a shooting line of .481/.375/.852.  Those are elite numbers, and they are even more impressive when you consider not only the defenses singularly geared to stop him on a nightly basis, but the stamina it takes to perform at an All-Star level while leading the league in total minutes played.

All-NBA selections have always required a mixture of both individual dominance as well as team success. Beals’ Wizards aren’t likely to even qualify for the playoffs, but it’s hard to put much if any of the blame on a guy producing at an incredibly high level on a team without much consistency outside of himself.

There are six guard spots on the three All-NBA teams. Stephen Curry and James Harden are locks. Others like Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving are shoe-ins as well. That leaves just one slot up for grabs, and with cases to be made for the likes of Kyle Lowry, D’Angelo Russell and Klay Thomspon, Beal will have an uphill climb no matter how majestic his numbers may seem.

Similar to the selection process for the All-Star Game, this will all come down to the weight voters place on each type of accomplishment. How much do they value a guy doing all he can to keep his team relevant with numbers on par with some of the true greats of the game today? Do they acknowledge that said player’s team has gone through a number of changes of the course of the season, making his stats all the more impressive?

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Only time can answer that question, but considering the cards he’s been dealt and what he’s managed to do with them, Beal is more than deserving of the recognition as one of the 15 best players of the season for his superb efforts in keeping the Wizards from entering a full-on tank job.

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