Bradley Beal's Tenure

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Lore & Background

Beal's arrival marked a new era following his selection as the third overall pick. He quickly made an impact, earning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors in December 2012 and January 2013. His early career was highlighted by clutch performances, such as scoring 24 points against the Brooklyn Nets on January 4, 2013, to force double overtime. He continued to grow, becoming the youngest competitor in Three-Point Shootout history at the 2014 All-Star Weekend. By 2017, Beal had surpassed Gilbert Arenas for the franchise single-season three-point record, finishing with 209 made shots compared to Arenas' 205. He became one of only three players aged 23 or younger in NBA history to average at least 23 points while shooting above 40 percent from deep, joining Kevin Durant and Vince Carter.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Beal's Washington tenure was defined by breakthrough scoring nights balanced against persistent injuries. In the 2016–17 season, he recorded a then-career-high 51 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on December 5, 2017. That same year, he led the Wizards to their first Game 7 since 1979 against the Boston Celtics, scoring 38 points despite the eventual loss. However, the physical toll was evident; during the 2014–16 period, he missed significant time with a scaphoid fracture in his left wrist, a stress reaction in his right fibula, and a sprained pelvis. Despite playing a career-low 55 games in 2015–16, he still managed to average a then-career-high 17.4 points per game. His time concluded with a five-year, $251 million supermax contract that gained notoriety as one of the worst in NBA history.

Reader's Guide

Fans witnessed Beal evolve from a promising rookie into a primary offensive option who could single-handedly ignite a comeback. On December 31, 2017, he scored 15 straight points in the fourth quarter to rally the Wizards past the Chicago Bulls, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. The crowd's reaction shifted with his fortunes; when he hit clutch shots like the buzzer-beater against the Orlando Magic on December 10, 2014, or the game-winning three-pointer against the San Antonio Spurs on November 4, 2015, the arena erupted. Conversely, injury stints often left fans anxious about his availability, particularly during his streak of missing games between December 11 and January 11 due to a lower right leg injury in 2016. His legacy remains tied to specific milestones, such as becoming the third Wizards player to reach 500 career three-pointers on December 16, 2016.

Did You Know?

• Beal won the MVP award and made the All-Tournament Team while leading the U.S. to a championship at the 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.
• He became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 700 made three-pointers on November 20, 2017.
• Beal recorded a career-high 51 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on December 5, 2017.
• He is one of only three players aged 23 or younger to average at least 23 points and shoot above 40 percent from three-point range.
• Beal surpassed Gilbert Arenas for the Wizards' single-season three-point record in March 2017.