The NBA in the second half of the regular season after the NBA trade deadline surpassed. The Eastern Conference is a tight race right now, especially since the league created the “play in” scenarios for this postseason. However, for the Washington Wizards, those playoff hopes are slipping, even though they're just four games back.

Even so, superstar guard Bradley Beal finds time to mentor young athletes. In a video recently tweeted by SLAM Magazine, Beal is heard giving an honest inspirational speech to his AAU team.

https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1375836304710189061

The speech is spoken true and from the heart. It's a wake-up call for anyone who has aspirations of making it in professional sports. AAU is known for hosting some of the best young athletes in the world, and the Wizards star seemed it was necessary to serve his squad a slice of humble pie.

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This is a solid message from Beal for all sports, as well as any other profession out there. Once a person finds their talent, they need to hone in and perfect it. If they don't, someone else will surpass them in whatever field that is. An important message not just for young athletes, but for anyone who has big aspirations.

Whether it's sports, education, music, writing, or even film, one must continuously work on their craft to keep their job. Beal knows exactly what he's talking about, as he clearly doesn't take anything for granted. He's been grinding it out throughout his NBA career, as he's considered a very underrated player in the league. It might be due to the fact he's played on a struggling Wizards team, but Beal always finds a way to perform at a high level.

A great message from a great player in the NBA. Don't take things for granted, and work on your craft. Otherwise, someone else will surpass you.