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Bradley Beal signed a five-year commitment with the Washington Wizards in June worth $251 million, making him one of the NBA’s highest-paid players.
The decision seems to be paying off in more ways than just monetarily.
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst believes that Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis are playing well enough to join Beal as a Big Three for Washington.
Beal, Kuzma, and Porzingis are all averaging over 20 points per game each while filling their roles. Their efforts have helped the Wizards (11-10) to seventh place in the East. Their next matchup is Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets (10-11), who sit two places behind Washington.
Windhorst believes that one of the reasons Beal secured such a big extension was because he saw the greatness unfolding and was ready to be at the center of it all.
Though the trio has been noticed as a developing Big Three, Windhorst said there is still room to climb:
“I gotta say this about the Wizards. The Wizards might have a Big Three. Now, it’s not, you know, LeBron, Wade and Bosh … But Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis are putting up huge numbers”
LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh formed a highly successful Big Three that will be tough to best, so the comments are not a dig at the Washington trio. They are rather to put into perspective where Beal and company sit.
In June, the only other big-name player on Washington was Kyle Kuzma. There were no superstars on the squad at all. No incentives. It looks like Bradley saw something most did not.
“You know, a lot of people, including me, have questioned why Bradley Beal has been so willing to stay invested there,” Windhorst said. “And, like, they’ve made some trades in the last two years that have built this team up.”
Bradley Beal’s deep commitment to Washington Wizards paying off
When Beal signed his contract, many viewed it as a questionable act. Yet, here we are, seeing greatness unfold as Porzingis developed into a very positive factor for Washington.
Kuzma joined the Wizards in 2021 as a part of a package for Russell Westbrook.
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Porzingis joined the Wizards in February along with a second-round pick, in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
What the Washington Wizards lacked prior to Kristaps signing was exactly what he brought. Porzingis showed everyone that his efforts are fluent and will be deployed in any city.
Not that there was much doubt, as he was effective in Dallas. But changing cities and teammates can affect players differently. It is good to see nothing has changed in his game. If anything, he is stepping up.
Porzingis is above his career averages in every category over his first 20 games for Washington. The big is averaging 21.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Kuzma is in the same boat. This season has been huge for the forward, who has been overlooked in prior seasons. Averaging 20.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 2.6 apg, Kyle is also playing above his career averages across 20 games.
Bradley Beal seals the trio off with 23.5 ppg at 52.8% shooting. Beal has been making sure the Wizards get their money’s worth.
“Now, I don’t know where they gonna be,” Windhorst said. “They’re 20 games in, they’re over .500, they’ve had a little bit of a favourable schedule so far.”
Only time will tell where this team is going to end up, but for the time being they are unfolding as a wonderful unit.
Beal must be rather happy that he decided to commit to the Wizards long term. There seems to be great things on the rise.
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