Suns 140, Wizards 112
Q. Now that the game part is over, how are you feeling about everything tonight?
BRADLEY BEAL: First, praise goes to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. For me, tonight was awesome, to be back in a city that has helped me grow as a man, from drafting me on my 19th birthday, being here for 11 years. There are a lot of good memories, man, and that tribute video was awesome. I was more than appreciative of it. It just reminded me of everything on and off the floor that I've contributed and encountered, and just took a moment to embrace it, be a little selfish in that regard and just embrace what I've done here. Tonight was awesome.
Q. Then obviously once the game started, you guys started. Speak to how you were able to get cooking early.
BRADLEY BEAL: I mean, I guess I know this gym a little bit. But for me, it was having not shot well over the last two games, and it was good to get in a good flow and a good rhythm, and what better place to do it than your old home. I was just fortunate, man, my teammates were encouraging, uplifting, and they really wanted to get the win for me, too. That was a big feeling.
To just get going, like you said, it was crazy, once the ball was in the air, it was just like a normal game. It was just a normal game, and I enjoyed every moment of it and just enjoyed the process and enjoyed the fun.
Q. Did the mask bother you?
BRADLEY BEAL: Honestly, ironically it didn't. It didn't. I didn't take it off as much, I just kept it on a lot and tried not to fiddle with it. It's going to be on, so go on and do what you can do.
Q. Seemed like I saw the fun you had, that the joy was here tonight, smiling at the crowd, one little smirk you gave, at one point hanging on the rim pointing. How much fun was tonight?
BRADLEY BEAL: It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun, just from embracing the crowd, the trash talkers in the crowd, and just former teammates and staff which you're playing against. They try to take everything away from you and do everything in their power to make it difficult for you. It's just always fun, man, just to see the growth of Deni and Gaff and those guys. I'm super proud of them and them constantly getting better, and the sky's the limit for them, so I'm just beyond happy. Especially those two, they work their tails off. Johnny is constantly working his tail off. He's getting better.
It's just a testament to when I was here, it was that type of relationship. I was pushing them still, and it's cool to see them take a little leap in their game.
Q. You traded jerseys with Deni, right?
BRADLEY BEAL: Yeah, I've got a Deni jersey. I've got a Deni jersey for sure. Deni has taken a step. He's gotten a lot better. The sky's the limit for him. He will just continue to get better. He's a big body, can shoot it, and he's a willing defender, which is super underrated for him.
I hope he continues to keep his head down, stay humble, keep working.
Q. Would you say it was kind of weird to play here as a visitor?
BRADLEY BEAL: Yes and no. It wasn't really weird -- it was weird going to a different locker room and things like that, but it's a game. It's the same game I've been playing. It was just a different team.
It doesn't change much, man. It kind of feels naturally, honestly, being on that floor. I knew where the lines were, I knew where everything was without even having to second-guess. But it just kind of felt like a normal game.
Q. Given that this team did trade you, how important was it to you to play as well as you did tonight?
BRADLEY BEAL: I don't want to play well for that reason. The team made its decision. It was a mutual decision back in the summer. It wasn't a spiteful or like a disgusting divorce. Like it was a good separation. There was no hard feelings in it.
You still want to kick the team that traded you's ass for sure, but it wasn't on my mind. It was just get the win. We wanted to finish our road trip off strong because we slipped up in some games, and we wanted to definitely make sure we capitalized before going back home.
Q. What degree of love did you feel from the crowd pregame and then during introductions and then when a couple trash talkers apparently --
BRADLEY BEAL: It's a lot, man. It was a lot, from being in the hotel, arriving in the city, the team security at the airport, bus drivers, getting to the hotel and seeing local people in D.C. It was a very cool experience the last few days. Being back in the building, same thing, the security guards, people that take care of this building on a daily basis, interacting with you guys, crossing paths with you. That was fun. It was good to see a lot of familiar faces, and it kind of just motivated me to play a little bit harder, too, just being appreciative of everything everybody has ever done for me here, being appreciative for where I am and the team I'm on now, and what we're trying to achieve and just trying to go out there and be the best version of me I can be and help this team win. It was fun, man.
Q. Being that this is your first time playing for a different team in your career, what has that transition been like for you?
BRADLEY BEAL: It's been a transition. I mean, it's been an adjustment for sure. You go from being very ball dominant to now you share that dominance with two other guys. It's a sacrifice it's totally different here than what it was.
It's a process, but it's one that's been working really well for us. We're still trying to be a healthy team. I don't think we've only collectively played 20 some odd games together healthy, so it's a little sample size, but we've had a lot of success, and we know what we can do. We know what we can continue to get better at. We're just pushing towards that every day.
Q. You said it was a mutual separation from the Wizards. Did you feel like it was time for you to go down a different path?
BRADLEY BEAL: It was kind of a -- a little bit of both. It was definitely a kind of where are we going from here, the status of what we were as a team and potential guys we didn't actually sign, given the status at the time, and then it was me kind of being selfish and what I wanted to do with my career, how long I had left in my career on my deal and things of that nature, and kind of how I wanted to foresee that.
It's just all worked out well. Mike and Will were awesome in their transition of taking over the team, and I think they'll continue to do a lot of good things here in D.C.
It was very plain and simple for everybody, but like I said, it wasn't a distasteful thing. It wasn't anything out of spite or a bad feeling, agreeing to do so. You still have your sentimental emotional ties here for sure that you miss.
Q. You talked about the transition from being asked to do everything here to being one of a three-headed monster. Is that almost a relief, or how do you react to that? How do you adjust to that? Are you having to put ego aside?
BRADLEY BEAL: Oh, for sure, ego is out the door. The moment I decided to leave D.C., it was -- like you have to understand you're going into a situation that -- Book was me in Phoenix; he's been there nine years. You're going somewhere where you're helping another guy uplift his team and uplift him as a player and uplift his status, and we have K, one of the best to ever touch the ball. For me, it's how do I fit into that, and the thing I love the most about them two is they tell me to be me, we need you to be yourself. We didn't bring you here to do anything other than that. So that's very encouraging to me. That's very uplifting. That's what kind of helps mold and make that transition a lot smoother, when you have guys who are selfless like that.
Q. I doubt it was a game plan, but was there a general understanding of your teammates to kind of get you the ball and give you a chance to put up 43 points today?
BRADLEY BEAL: It wasn't like something we talked about in the locker room, but you could kind of sense the energy of the team, like that's what we were going to do.
Q. What does this community and this city mean to you?
BRADLEY BEAL: A lot, man. This city is awesome. Like I said, this is a team that drafted me at 19, and I remember walking on F Street and walking into this building the first time. It's always been home to me. It's been an unbelievable ride, the highs and the lows, good and bad. I've embraced it all here and just being involved in the community and the people that you meet and the relationships that you build, I think that's one of the things I miss dearly. There's a lot of truly genuine good people here, unbelievable place for me to raise my family and get that started. I'm just super blessed, man. I've had a great 11 years here. It's unheard of to be in one place for a long time, so I'm happy for that.
Q. What did it mean to hear the cheers from the crowd?
BRADLEY BEAL: It was awesome. Similar to the video, just makes you feel appreciated, missed, and it's definitely uplifting. It encourages me to continue to be who I am, be humble, continue to give back to the community, continue to be impactful as best I can.
Q. It was almost four years ago you and Tasha led that march. I wonder what your memories were of that day and what that meant to you in terms of being a part of this city, being a part of what was going on at that time and being a voice in this city.
BRADLEY BEAL: Yeah, the Joe T march was -- I always credited Tasha for that because she was the biggest voice in getting us all acclimated and making sure that we said something and we actually did something. That day specifically was one of the most powerful days probably in our organization.
Just to be up front, speaking in front of those people, it's hard to put into words. Like for me, I was like definitely in the moment, for understanding just the tough time we were in as a society, and here being in D.C., we have a community that's impacted by unjust systems, by a lot of unfairness in our communities, poverty communities, financial disadvantages. There's a lot.
The city needed a voice. As much as people look up to us, as much as we may not like it, we are role models. We are celebrities. We are the voice of a lot of people. A simple nod from us or simple gesture from us goes a long way. I thank Tasha again. She encouraged me to make sure I did it and was on the forefront of being a voice for the team, being a voice for those who aren't heard. Whether things get done or not, it's obviously up to those who have the ultimate control, but you can't not say anything, you can't not do anything and say you're affected by something. I think it's important that you put your foot forward and give back and speak up as best you can because there's a lot of people who don't have that voice, a lot of people who can't have access and reach to those that we can.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports