Last season, we saw a lot of players who were either hurt or just not themselves. Tough seasons can be a result of lingering injuries or just not being in the best circumstances with their respective teams. With that being said, we’ll break down which NBA players are going to bounce back and return to form after having a rough season by their own standards.
NBA Bounce Back Candidate #2: Bradley Beal
Last season was a brutal one for Bradley Beal. The Florida Gator product played just 40 games because of various injuries, starting with his hip and ending with his left wrist. Between these two injuries happening, he had to deal with COVID protocols twice and the unfortunate passing of his grandmother.
He never had a chance to get settled in with his team or gain any consistent playing time because of these issues. He averaged eight fewer points and had a 5% drop in true shooting percentage as a result of all of these factors. The Washington Wizards had an active offseason, signing Bradley Beal to a five-year, $251 million contract.
They also drafted Johnny Davis with the 10th overall pick, while Ish Smith and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were traded for Monte Morris and Will Barton. The Morris acquisition was a solid one because not only is he a good facilitator, but he can play solid defense at both guard positions. Barton is also a good defender while being able to help with the scoring load, especially when Beal is resting.
I believe these moves will not only improve Beal’s confidence in the team but also give him a good balance of help through passing and defense from his newly acquired teammates. I fully expect to see Beal not only get back to his old self but have one of the best seasons of his career.