After being traded to Phoenix last summer and leaving the Washington Wizards for the first time in 11 years, Bradley Beal made a statement with a season-high 43 points in his return to D.C. yesterday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!His huge performance helped the Phoenix Suns (29-21) cap off their seven-game road trip with a dominant 140-112 victory over the Wizards (9-40).
“Tonight was awesome to be back in a city that helped me grow as a man from drafting me on my 19th birthday (to) being here for 11 years,” Beal said. “It was a lot of good memories.”
“Tonight was awesome to be back in a city that helped me grow as a man from drafting me on my 19th birthday (to) being here for 11 years. It was a lot of good memories.”#Suns Bradley Beal initial comments on dropping season-high 43 points vs. #Wizards in return to Washington https://t.co/bY6RAd3N9y pic.twitter.com/TKGYhO1zZY
— Burn City Suns Talk 🎙️ (@BurnCitySuns) February 5, 2024
Beal was drafted by the Wizards with the No. 3 overall pick back in 2012, and he stayed loyal to the city through all of the ups and downs for over a decade before the trade.
Throughout his time in Washington, Beal ended up playing 635 regular season games, good for third all time in Wizards history. In these games, Beal became the all-time franchise leader in 3-pointers (1,514), second in points (15,391), field goals (5,624), steals (772) and top 5 in several other categories.
He made the All-Star game three times in Washington and was named All-NBA third team in 2021 when he averaged a career-high 31.3 points.
Of course, the Wizards honored him with a tribute video.
“That tribute video was awesome,” Beal said. “I was more than appreciative of it. It just reminded me of everything on and off the floor that I’ve contributed and encountered and (I) took a moment to embrace it. (I was) a little bit selfish in that regard and just embracing what I’ve done here. Tonight was awesome.”
Bradley Beal tribute video from #Wizards ahead of return to Washington pic.twitter.com/Z9z96KvYjO
— Burn City Suns Talk 🎙️ (@BurnCitySuns) February 4, 2024
Putting the struggles behind him
Beal entered the game really struggling after suffering a nasal fracture on Jan. 26, going 3-for-27 from 3-point range from that point until the beginning of the game vs. the Wizards.
He finished the game shooting 4-for-5 from deep and 16-for-21 overall. This was Beal’s highest scoring game since he had 50 points for the Wizards back on May 8, 2021.
“I guess I know this gym a little bit,” Beal said laughing. “But I mean, for me, it was I haven’t ever shot it to well the last few games. It was good to be able to just get a good flow, good rhythm and no better place to do it in than your own home.
“I was just fortunate man, my teammates were encouraging, uplifting, and they really wanted to get the win from me too, so that was a big feeling. And to just get going (early), it was crazy once the ball is in the air, it’s just like a normal game. It was just a normal game, and I enjoyed every moment of it and just enjoyed the process, enjoyed the fun.”
Bradley Beal scores season-high 43 points in Suns win over Wizards
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
