Almost every year, much is made about Bradley Beal’s future with the Wizards. As a young and valuable young star, fans have trouble believing that Beal would want to stick around in a place that has struggled so much over the past few years.
But in a report by NBA insider Marc Stein, Beal hasn’t lost his loyalty to DC. In fact, he desires to be the Dirk Nowitzki of the Wizards.
I’ve heard a rumble or two in recent months from parties hopeful of luring Bradley Beal away from Washington that Beal is known for saying, in essence, that he wants to be the Dirk Nowitzki of the Wizards in terms of playing only for the franchise that drafted him No. 3 overall in 2012. In an interview last week with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, Beal stopped short of publicly promising to re-sign with Washington this summer but did strongly hint at it when he said: “If I feel like I can win in DC, that’s what I’m gonna do, and I want people to respect that.” Beal, 28, can sign a five-year contract with the Wizards in the $250 million range this offseason after officially becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Beal, 28, is one of the best scorers in basketball. For the Wizards this season, he averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game on 30% shooting from downtown.
He is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he already named winning as his biggest priority.
“Obviously, I consider my family. What do they wanna do? Where do they wanna live? What are they comfortable with? And obviously, the team. So it is surreal in a lot of ways to be in the position I am in. It is crazy numbers. It is what it is. It’s uncontrollable. It’s out of my control. But I’m blessed to be here. Again, I don’t shy away from that. I take it on with a full front and I have to do what’s best for me. There is a little anxiety because I have to make the decision and time is counting down, we’re in June now. But it’s fun to be in this position.”
Of course, Nowitzki is one of the great loyalists of NBA history. He is one of a small list of players who have played for one team for at least 20 years. He did also win a title in 2011.
Obviously, Beal has a lot to consider about his future. If he stays in DC, it could cost him a championship. If he leaves for another team, he might never forgive himself.
Either way, his future is a little more complicated than one might think.
