Skip to main content

Grant Hill calls Bradley Beal’s decision to stay with Wizards ‘refreshing’

By Chase Hughes

Hill calls Beal's decision to stay 'refreshing' originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Bradley Beal’s decision to re-sign with the Wizards guaranteed him lots and lots of money, and it also continued a trend for him that runs counter to the paths many other NBA stars have chosen. He is remaining with the team that drafted him, pushing his tenure in Washington into its second decade.

Beal’s choice to stick around was appreciated by NBA legend Grant Hill, who caught up with NBC Sports Washington recently to discuss his new autobiography called ‘Game.’ 

“It was a nice contract. I think it’s refreshing when you see athletes who want to stay in one place. Obviously, he could have maybe tried to go elsewhere. The team hasn’t had great playoff success in recent years, but he’s committed to the franchise, he’s committed to the area,” Hill told NBC Sports Washington.

Hill, a Naismith Hall of Famer, played 18 seasons in the NBA for four different teams. He bounced around and found success at different stops, but admires the connection Beal has made with the city of D.C.

Hill happens to be from the area, having grown up in nearby Reston, VA before he went on to become a star at Duke University and then in the NBA.

“I think he loves the DMV. I think they’ve embraced him and feel like he’s part of their own. So, you pull for guys like that; good people, character guys who want to play where they were drafted,” Hill said.

Beal signed a five-year contract with the Wizards worth a projected $251 million. He did so despite the lure of free agency following a season in which the Wizards finished 35-47 and fell short of the playoffs.

As Hill noted, Beal could have left to join a better team, albeit for a contract that would have paid him substantially less money. Beal made that decision in part because he thinks the Wizards are on a track towards becoming perennial playoff contenders.

With Beal entering his Age 29 season, certainly it would be ideal if the Wizards became contenders sooner than later. Hill is rooting for just that.

“You hope that he can have success there in Washington, team success, before his career is over,” Hill said.

Beal has been to the playoffs five times in 10 years with the Wizards, but has yet to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs. The Wizards have not reached the conference finals as a franchise since 1979.

Stay tuned for more from our conversation with Hill, including stories from his book and his days growing up in Northern Virginia.

Wizards make history with win despite huge 3-point shooting deficit

By Chase Hughes
Wizards make history with huge 3-point margin originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe Wizards made five 3-pointers on Wednesday and their opponent, the Sixers, made 19. If that sounds like a major disadvantage, well, it usually is. All of the previous 27 times an NBA team made five threes or fewer and allowed their opponent to make 19 or more, they lost.Somehow, the Wizards bucked that trend to make NBA history and do something no team had ever done before. Outscoring the Sixers 68-38 in the paint was the biggest reason, as that 30-point edge helped offset the 42-point advantage the Sixers had on the perimeter. The result was a 121-111 road victory for Washington, improving their record to 4-4.Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers had five threes all by himself, tying the Wizards as a team. Tobias Harris added four triples, while his teammates James Harden and Georges Niang had three apiece.For the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma made two threes. The only other ones to get a perimeter shot to fall were Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Will Barton, who each made one.The Wizards were 5-for-21 from three overall, which breaks out to 23.8%. The Sixers were 19-for-36, good for 52.8%. That's a tremendous shooting night, yet they lost.Just shooting as well from three as the Sixers did is generally an airtight path towards victory. In the last three seasons, teams that have made 19 or more threes, shooting 50% or better, were 112-5.In the same span of time, teams that made five threes or fewer, shooting 25% or worse, were 24-71. The Wizards defied gargantuan odds to pull out the victory.It helped that they otherwise played well offensively. The Wizards scored 121 points, shot 57.7% from the field overall, 26-for-32 from the free throw line (81.3%) and committed only seven turnovers.Porzingis had 30 points and Beal had 29, shooting a combined 20-for-30 (66.7%). Whenever their best players perform like that, the Wizards are going to be in good shape.Washington also defended well aside from the 3-point line. They came into the game allowing the fewest paint points (40.6/g) in the league, yet held the Sixers below that number. Washington outrebounded them 43-32 and blocked nine shots.Philly had a monster third quarter with 39 points, but the Wizards locked down in the fourth to hold them to just 21 points. The Sixers didn't score in the final 2:30 and missed their final four attempts.So, the Wizards made it work, even if the 3-point differential wasn't ideal. Prior history, though, would suggest it's not a recipe for success moving forward.Surely, the Wizards will hope for better results at the 3-point line on both ends of the floor. After making only five threes on Wednesday, the Wizards are averaging only 9.6 per game, 28th in the NBA. And on defense, after giving up 19 to the Sixers just three days after allowing 21 to the Celtics, the Wizards are giving up 13.8 threes per game, ranking 24th in the league.Perimeter shooting has become uniquely important in today's NBA. Many games come down to which team wins the 3-point margin.The Wizards essentially invented a new way to win a basketball game on Wednesday night. They may never be able to replicate it, but a win is a win.
Read Next Story

Related News

Wizards make history with win despite huge 3-point shooting deficit

Rick Ross, Ja Rule headline Wizards’ concert series for 2022-23 season

Wizards lose third straight as James Harden records 17 assists for 76ers