Washington Wizards All-Star shooting guard Bradely Beal recently opened up about his decision to sign a two-year, $72 million extension with the Wizards last month. According to the 26-year-old, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki actually had a lot to do with his decision to extend his stay in the capital.
Nowitzki did not exactly reach out to Beal to convince him to stay with the Wizards — that just wouldn't make a lot of sense. However, it was the way Dirk exhibited his unwavering loyalty to the Mavs for 20 years that figuratively spoke to Beal.
For his part, Beal has been with the Wizards throughout his seven-year career, and his recent extension stipulates that he will be with the team for at least until the end of the 2022-23 season. That makes it a full decade for Beal, which is not something many players are able to achieve in today's NBA.
On Friday, Beal proved that he is worth every single penny of his big-money contract, as the 6-foot-3 guard absolutely dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to a 137-116 blowout victory. For his part, Beal logged 44 points on 15-of-22 from the field and 13-of-14 from the line, along with one 3-pointer, three rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and a block in 37 minutes of action.
John Wall is not expected to figure significantly — if at all — in Washington's plans this season, which puts much of the burden on the shoulders of Beal. So far, though, the former Florida standout has been heeding the call, and has proven that he is more than willing to carry an entire franchise on his back.