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Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is not with the team in Orlando, but he took time on Sunday to join the Wizards broadcast.
Beal was asked about not appearing on many All-NBA ballots, and he responded by saying that while he tries not to get too “uptight” about balloting, he feels somewhat disrespected by members of the media:
“The players know. The coaches know. … I do get upset about it because it’s a respect factor.”
Bradley Beal on getting overlooked by the media in All-NBA voting pic.twitter.com/Ujr1sTVIej
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 2, 2020
Beal acknowledged some media personnel factoring winning into their decisions, though he also seems frustrated by the ever-changing criteria for NBA accolades.
The 27-year-old's numbers seem to scream All-NBA. Beal averaged 30.5 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 57 games, also shooting over 84.0 percent from the free-throw line on a career-high 8.0 attempts per game.
Sure, the Wizards struggled to win. Beal also leaves some to be desired on the defensive end of the floor, given he posted a minus-2.4 Defensive Box Plus/Minus, per Basketball-Reference.com.
However, something has to be said for his ability to carry a relatively inexperienced Wizards team to Orlando (despite not partaking in the restart) as the ninth and final Eastern Conference squad.
Not only were the Wizards lacking in quality depth, but they also dealt with myriad injuries throughout the year. Even when Beal scored 50-plus, it was not always enough.
Still, the former Florida star helped manufacture enough wins to keep Washington somewhat competitive. It feels like that should count for something.
This is not the first time Beal has commented on his All-NBA status. He criticized ESPN's Zach Lowe earlier this week for apparently lying to his face about his vote. While the All-NBA teams haven't been announced yet, it looks like Beal will not be making one.
If nothing else, Beal can at least take solace in knowing the players and coaches know just how special he is on the hardwood.
