NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2019-20

The Washington Wizards thought they had the best backcourt in the league set up to compete in the Eastern Conference for years to come. Instead All-Star point guard John Wall has been injured much of the past two seasons and his return is still in the distance. That makes this Bradley Beal‘s team.

Last year he stepped up to the challenge, averaging 25.6 points per game on a solid 58.6 percent true shooting. He created his own shots and also set up teammates, if not at the level of peak John Wall. He was, in short, the offensively potent guard everyone hoped he would become.

He was also unable to elevate his team to anything resembling contention, even with breakout seasons (of sorts) from Thomas Bryant and Tomas Satoransky. He proved he can get his own at an elite level; can he do something more and help his team become greater than the sum of its parts? The outlook is not bright for this season at least.

Looking ahead: Beal is just 26, firmly in his prime, so he is the most likely candidate to be on this list next year. If Wall returns fully healthy he could push to regain his place as this team’s top player, but that would take a large leap of faith at this point. None of the team’s young talent looks primed for a star turn either.