Washington Wizards sharpshooter Bradley Beal addressed the latest report of a practice feud following the team's three-game win streak on Thursday, one which raised eyebrows shortly after a report signaling ownership was ready to trade either of the two All-Stars in the backcourt.
Beal made his best version of Allen Iverson's infamous practice rant, doing so in a more composed manner, true to his own persona.
“What happened in practice happened in practice,” said Beal. “Practice is closed, practice is not a public thing. It got heated, you guys know that. It happens in this organization and others around in the league. High school, college, it happens. Guys argue, it is what it is.”
Bradley Beal addresses last Thursday’s practice and the culture of the #Wizards pic.twitter.com/mHOQuPVQfT
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) November 20, 2018
Beal reportedly got into a tiff with the newly acquired Austin Rivers over a foul call, an argument that was later joined by franchise star John Wall and another newcomer in veteran Jeff Green. Beal also had some choice expletives for president Ernie Grunfeld, which had the shooting guard criticize the suit by saying “it starts at the top.”
Asked of the culture of this team, Beal looked rattled, but managed a poignant response.
“I feel like our culture is what we created it to be,” said Beal. “He (likely Grunfeld) tore the team apart and created a new team, starting with John, that's the foundation and created it into what we are now. We're a playoff team, but we've struggled — we've had our fair share of struggles.
“I wouldn't say that we're a team that is not in unison, I wouldn't say that we're a team that hates each other … we just can't seem to put it together.”
Grunfeld is the second-longest tenured front-office executive in Wizards franchise history after being hired by the team in 2003 to start the post-Jordan era, ranking right behind GM Bob Ferry, who guided the Washington Bullets to a championship in 1978.
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