Although ranking the top 30 NBA players in today’s game is an incredibly difficult task, The Last Word on Pro Basketball staff has taken it on. Debuting at number 19 in the countdown in Washington Wizards‘ guard Bradley Beal.
Top 30 NBA Players
Number 19 – Bradley Beal
Throughout the entirety of Beal’s NBA career, he has performed at a relatively high level. It wasn’t until John Wall‘s career-altering injury however until he truly evolved into one of the NBA’s top players. This season is no different as Beal has become the centerpiece and face of the franchise for the Washington Wizards. His stellar play has managed to keep the team competitive despite the lack of talent around him. Beal has compiled an impressive stat line and has placed himself in the conversation for making one of the All-NBA teams.
Beal is averaging 30.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game on the season and was named to his second consecutive All-Star team in his career.
Strengths
For a player of Beal’s size, he possesses elite athleticism which makes him a versatile scorer and playmaker for the Wizards. His top-notch speed and agility help him drive past defenders and finish with a wide array of post moves. He makes up for his slightly smaller frame with proper technique, incredible focus, and physicality.
On offense, Beal can score from just about anywhere. He averages a respectable 38 percent from beyond the arc over the course of his career. Beal exemplifies what it means to be a dead-eye shooter in today’s NBA. Whether it’s pulling up off the dribble or finishing in the catch and shoot game, Beal will get the job done. He may excel as a scorer, but Beal is not a one-trick pony. He is currently averaging over six assists per game on the season and also possesses top-notch ball-handling ability.
One of the things Beal does best is taking over games for his team. This has been quite evident this season as he managed to drop 50+ points in back to back games as well as a handful of 40+ point games. The lack of success within the Wizards organization has caused Beal to become underrated by many in the league. He uses this as motivation and plays with a chip on his shoulder every night.
Weaknesses
Offensively there is hardly anything to criticize about Beal’s game. He is an elite scorer which shows in his stats. The one problem is that Beal’s scoring doesn’t always translate into wins as the Wizards are near the bottom of the league. While a lot of this can be attributed to the talent around him, true stars find a way to get it done.
Beal’s defensive play is a much different story compared to the rest of his game. His smaller frame gives larger guards an advantage which they often capitalize on. Beal was recently graded as one of the worst players defensively in all the NBA. He leaves opponents open on too many occasions which can occasionally make him a liability for his team. Beal is an elite player, but unlike many other players on this list, he is not a two-way player.
Bradley Beal Career Accolades
While he has been a main contributor for the Wizards throughout his career, he really only came into his own a few seasons ago. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team but struggled to break out over the next few years. After the injury to Wall, Beal’s career began to take off. Since then he has been named to two All-Star teams and has solidified himself as an NBA superstar.
He has a very strong case to be selected for one of the All-NBA teams at the conclusion of the season. If it was just based on offense he would be a lock, but his defensive play may hinder his chances.
Last Word on Pro Basketball Top 30 NBA Players Ballots
We believe in full transparency in the top 30 NBA player rankings so we are going to disclose the ballots of our player rankings and where each contributor had each player ranked.
Tyler Marling – Site Manager – 17
Chase Gage – Managing Editor – 23
David Knight – Marketing Manager – 18
Zack Kircher – Associate Editor – 17
Matthew Waldman – Associate Editor – NR
David Ward – Author – 15
Avinash Chauhan – Contributor – 23
Adam Zigner – Contributor – 18
Albert Dadson – Contributor – 17
Dylan Guest – Contributor – 18
Raheem Bashir – Contributor – 21
Nathan Levine – Contributor – 25
Bill Huan – Contributor – 18
Main Photo
