When the FIBA world championships took place in 2019, Bradley Beal turned down an invite to be on Team USA’s roster because of the pending birth of his second son. Now, two years later, his country has come calling again and this time the Washington Wizards guard didn’t say no this time around.
Beal was among the 12 players who will represent Team USA next month in Tokyo. He committed to the Games earlier this month, though the roster was officially announced Monday.
Beal joins fellow NBA stars Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Jerami Grant, Draymond Green, Jrue Holiday, Zach LaVine, Kevin Love and Khris Middleton on the roster.
The honor is the latest reflection of Beal’s ascent within the NBA. This past season, he was named an All-Star starter for the first time and he was one of six players in league history to average more than 30 points for a second straight season. Beal finished second in scoring with 31.3 points per game and led the Wizards to the playoffs.
“To be selected to the United States Olympic team is an honor and a blessing,” Beal said in a statement. “Representing my country on the world’s biggest stage alongside so many of the league’s best players is a privilege that both humbles and inspires me.”
Team USA will be looking to win its fourth straight gold medal. Many of the league’s most prominent players — such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry — chose to bypass to the Olympics because the NBA’s schedule extended later than normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, the NBA season would be done by now, but the conference finals are still underway.
This will be Beal’s first Olympics. In 2016, he withdrew from practicing with Team USA to focus on his body. That year, Beal was limited to 55 games. Since then, the 2012 third overall pick has been mostly healthy — missing just 12 games last season. He played a full 82 games in back-to-back seasons across 2017 and 2019.
Beal isn’t the only Wizard to represent his country. Forward Rui Hachimura will represent his native Japan — particularly special as the Games will be set in Tokyo. In the WNBA, the Washington Mystics saw two players — Tina Charles and Ariel Atkins — make Team USA’s women’s basketball roster.
In his ninth season, Beal is coming off a career high in points, field goal percentage (.485) and free throw percentage (.889). He was named All-NBA third team — an award that reflects that season’s top 15 players.
The Wizards went 34-38 last season and lost in the first round, 4-1, to the Philadelphia 76ers. After the season, Washington parted ways with coach Scott Brooks and are in the midst of a search for his replacement.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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