Bradley Beal can’t say he was snubbed this year.
The Washington Wizards star made third-team All-NBA for the first time in his nine-year career — an honor that reflected Beal’s magnificent season. Beal was second in the league in scoring, averaging 31.3 points per game. He was one of the two guards on the third team, joining Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving.
Last fall, Beal and his family were upset the guard wasn’t recognized for the award. Beal tweeted “yikes” after a tweet stated that the guard was the first player to not earn the honor despite averaging at least 30 points and six assists. In 2019, the snub also cost Beal a shot to earn a supermax extension — which would have allowed him to make up to 35% of the team’s salary cap.
This season was a different story. Besides his scoring prowess, Beal led Washington to the playoffs — recording 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game to go with his scoring average. He was the sixth player in NBA history to have consecutive seasons averaging at least 30 points per game.
Beal earned 71 total points among voters, composed of media members — 50 votes for the third-team and six votes for the second-team.
“I am humbled and honored to be named to the All-NBA Third Team,” Beal said in a statement. “I would not be able to achieve this honor without my coaching staff, teammates, and our great fans who gave me unbelievable support during an unprecedented season. I am excited to get back to work this summer and building on what we were able to accomplish.”
Beal, the third overall pick in 2012, is the 14th player in franchise history to be named to an All-NBA team. The last Wizards player to do so was John Wall in 2016-17.
Beal’s backcourt partner — Russell Westbrook — was left off an All-NBA team for the first time since 2010. Westbrook, however, received the second-most votes of anyone not named to an All-NBA team — earning 44 total points (one first-team vote, six second-team votes and 21 third-team votes).
This past year, his first with the Wizards, Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the fourth time in five seasons. His play down the stretch helped fuel the Wizards to the playoffs and in the process, he became the NBA’s all-time triple-double leader, surpassing Oscar Robertson.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Dallas’ Luka Doncic, the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver’s Nikola Jokic were named to All NBA first-team.
Portland’s Damian Lillard, Phoenix’s Chris Paul, the Lakers’ LeBron James, New York’s Julius Randle and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid made the second team.
The third team consisted of Irving, Beal, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, the Clippers’ Paul George and Utah’s Rudy Gobert.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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