Bradley Beal officially turned the page on his eleven years in Washington this weekend by sporting for the first time his new jersey from the Phoenix Suns where he was traded ten days ago.
This Monday, the All-Star guard addressed the Wizards fan community one last time by publishing a letter in The Player’s Tribunetitled “Dear DC.”
Drafted in 2012, Bradley Beal has only known the Wizards in the NBA, and he actively contributed to reviving the franchise in the capital in its early years, before taking on the role of captain following the departure of John Wall. In the souvenir department, he will remember in particular the evening of his Draft which changed his life and that of his family.
The Wizards? “A part of me”
“Writing this wasn’t easy. I’ve had eleven amazing years and it’s unreal to think my time here has come to an end. You spend more than a decade somewhere, and that place becomes more than the team you play for. It becomes a part of you.” he wrote. “I’ll never forget the day the Wizards drafted me, because it was my 19th birthday. June 28, 2012! I remember growing up, my brothers and I wondering who would be the first to buy our mom her dream house. And when my name was called third, we all hugged, because we knew what that meant. My family has sacrificed many of their dreams to help me pursue mine…and the reason I’m telling you about my adventure in Washington is because that’s where it all began. The Wizards made those dreams come true. DC trusted me by choosing me in 3rd place. It’s the kind of faith you can only try to return, and all I can say is that I tried my best. Whether as a person in the community or as a player on the pitch. I think when John Wall and I came here, there wasn’t necessarily all that basketball in Washington. One of the things I’m most proud of is that we managed to play at a level that helped turn things around. Between our success and that of the Mystics, I feel like we’ve brought a whole new energy to the city.”
A message for the Suns
Bradley Beal was also able to take the time to thank all the people who accompanied him during his eleven years, through a very long list, taking the time to name as many people as possible so as not to forget anyone. He finally thanked the fans for their support during all these years.
“It’s crazy how, on Draft night, I was hugging my parents and my brothers, as a 19-year-old kid about to move to DC… and now I’m leaving with my own family at almost 30 . I really appreciate the life we were able to build here, and the way everyone treated us when we left. I was very proud to be a franchise player and to have established this relationship with the community. But I also know it’s a business. And from that perspective, it was the right time for both parties.”he added.
At the dawn of a new challenge in a formation of a completely different scale alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, he concluded with a message for his next Phoenix team.
“To everyone in Phoenix: I’m happy to play for all of you and be part of the Suns. One thing I realize about this team is that the days of my sons wearing BEAL #3 jerseys are probably over. I’m pretty sure they’ll ask for number 1 or number 35. But I’m ready to take that affront. This group has a chance to be unique”.
| Bradley Beal | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2012-13 | WAS | 56 | 31 | 41.0 | 38.6 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
| 2013-14 | WAS | 73 | 35 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 78.8 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| 2014-15 | WAS | 63 | 34 | 42.7 | 40.9 | 78.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2015-16 | WAS | 55 | 31 | 44.9 | 38.7 | 76.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 17.4 |
| 2016-17 | WAS | 77 | 35 | 48.2 | 40.4 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 23.1 |
| 2017-18 | WAS | 82 | 36 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 79.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 22.7 |
| 2018-19 | WAS | 82 | 37 | 47.5 | 35.1 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | WAS | 57 | 36 | 45.5 | 35.3 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 30.5 |
| 2020-21 | WAS | 60 | 36 | 48.5 | 34.9 | 88.9 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 31.3 |
| 2021-22 | WAS | 40 | 36 | 45.1 | 30.0 | 83.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 50 | 34 | 50.6 | 36.5 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 23.2 |
| Total | 695 | 35 | 46.0 | 37.2 | 82.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 22.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
