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Washington Wizards point guard Austin Rivers clearly wasn't happy with John Wall and Bradley Beal's criticism of the team after getting their fourth loss in five games.
Wall and Beal called out their teammates following their 116-112 defeat to the Sacramento Kings. The Wizards were ahead entering the payoff period, but they failed to hold on to their lead and dropped to 1-4 in the standings.
The two, who are considered as the leaders of the Washington team, showed their disappointment after the loss and said their teammates have their “own agendas” on the court. They also questioned the players' competitive spirit, taking a jibe at their teammates who are complaining about getting shots and playing time instead of competing on both ends of the floor.
Austin Rivers, however, defended the team and said the comments of the two were unwarranted, especially with some of the Wizards playing hard and doing their best to contribute.
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“That kinda hit me out of left field,” Rivers told Fred Katz of The Athletic. “We’ve got some guys who feel that way, but we’ve got some I’m just trying to — I don’t wanna start nothing. I’m just trying to play hard. And I’m new here, so I’m still trying to find my way.”
Rivers, who has been averaging only 7.8 points despite playing 24.6 minutes on a nightly basis, also hit back at Wall and Beal for questioning the players' shots. The former New Orleans Pelicans and LA Clippers guard emphasized that they “should never be worried about someone else's shots.”
“You gotta understand, guys are frustrated. We’re 1-4, so sometimes, comments can be unwarranted. You know what I mean?” Rivers added.
Wall and Beal's remarks are understandable. After all, they are the only bright spots for the Wizards so far, with Wall averaging 21.2 points on 42.2 percent shooting and Beal putting up 24.2 points on an efficient 46.9 field goal percentage.
However, speaking to the media about their concerns instead of addressing their teammates directly isn't the best way to solve problems, and it's bound to irk those who are affected.
