Bradley Beal, now with the Phoenix Suns, became a subject of discussion from his former boss, Ted Leonsis, in an interview. Leonsis, the majority owner of the Washington Wizards, reflected on various topics, including a failed attempt to move the Wizards and the Washington Capitals to a new entertainment district in Alexandria, Virginia. Leonsis’ proposal, announced in December, ultimately fell through after 15 weeks, and instead, the teams agreed on a $500 million deal to remain at a renovated Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. until at least 2050.
Leonsis’ comments about Beal in the interview, though surprising, are indicative of their past association while Beal was the face of the Wizards. Now that Beal has moved on to Phoenix, this interaction adds a layer of interest to the relationship between the two.
Bradley Beal voiced strong support for keeping the Washington Wizards in D.C. during his tenure with the team, especially after the news broke about the potential move to Virginia. In an interview with Marc Spears from Andscape, Beal expressed his thoughts on the situation:
“D.C., I’m here with you,” Beal said. “I’m with you all. There is no moving to Virginia. What is that, [Wizards owner] Ted [Leonsis]? We love you to death. We understand what you want to do and are trying to do. But you can’t take the team out of D.C. It’s Chocolate City. As a league, we need it. It has to stay in D.C. now.”
Beal acknowledged that financial decisions surrounding the move were beyond his control, but hoped Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser could negotiate a solution to keep the team in the city. His comments highlight his deep connection to Washington, D.C., and his belief in the importance of keeping the team in its longtime home.
Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Wizards, addressed Bradley Beal’s comments about the proposed move to Virginia and reflected on their past relationship during an interview with Mike Unger. He acknowledged the scrutiny that comes with being a public figure in the media and used Beal as an example.
“I’ll use, as an example, Bradley Beal. He was one of our [Wizards] players. He had a no-trade contract, and he wanted to be traded. He went to Phoenix. When we announced we were moving, he found it necessary to get online and say, ‘You’re making a big mistake. You shouldn’t be moving.’ I thought that was gratuitous, but I didn’t say anything.”
Leonsis also noted the challenges Beal faced after his team’s playoff exit, mentioning the criticism he received after a lackluster performance in the Suns’ playoff loss to the Timberwolves, saying:
“They made the playoffs and got swept in the first round. And there’s a lot of criticism of Bradley Beal. That’s how life is, right? You can criticize. Can you take the criticism back? It’s the world we live in.”
Beal was drafted No. 3 overall by the Wizards in 2012 and has since become the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (1,514), second in points (15,391), and third in assists (2,972).
Leonsis defended the decision to give Beal a no-trade clause when he signed a five-year, $251 million max contract in 2022, stating that it was a part of the team’s commitment to him. Even after being traded to the Suns in June 2023, Beal retained that no-trade clause, which speaks to the Wizards’ desire to accommodate him during his time in D.C.
At the Phoenix Suns’ media day on Monday, Bradley Beal expressed that his “main focus and goal this year is to have fun” while reflecting on the challenges of the previous season. Beal, who was acquired from the Washington Wizards, aims to enjoy his time on the court after a difficult year with a franchise that finished with a dismal 15-67 record in the 2023-24 season.
The Suns will face the Wizards for the first time this season in Washington on January 16, 2025. Beal had an impressive return to D.C. last season, scoring a season-high 43 points in his first game back.
As he settles into his new role with the Suns, Beal is looking to shift the narrative around his performance and contribute positively to his new team, focusing on both personal enjoyment and team success.