Washington Wizards: 4 stats that show the Wizards are better than their record
By Ethan Smith
Bradley Beal leads the league in two major scoring categories.
If you truly believe the Washington Wizards are better than their 14-20 record, then you probably believe in Bradley Beal. And why wouldn’t you? This season, the man is an unstoppable scoring machine.
He leads the NBA in points per game (32.9) by nearly three whole points. More impressively, Beal leads the NBA in total points scored (1053) despite playing at least two fewer games than any other player in the top five.
Beal’s ascension as a top-tier scorer over the past few seasons has been incredible. Check out how his scoring averages have steadily increased over the past four seasons:
- 2017-18: 22.6 points
- 2018-19: 25.6 points
- 2019-20: 30.5 points
- 2020-21: 32.9 points
What’s even more impressive, though, is that Beal is putting on a prolific scoring season while also having one of his most efficient seasons ever. Halfway through the season, Beal is shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, tied for the best single-season mark of his career.
Even though Beal is doing more than ever on the offensive end, he’s finally getting that help he’s desperately needed for the last two seasons. Beal and Russell Westbrook are starting to hit their groove as a duo, and currently average more points than any other pair of teammates (52.9 per). In the team’s February win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Beal and Westbrook scored the team’s final 10 points to push the game into overtime. The Wizards went on to win 127-124.
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The league’s top scoring-duo is starting to do the damage many expected them to impose on opponents starting on opening night. And they still have a lot of games left in which they can impose their will. If there’s one reason to believe in the Washington Wizards, it’s Bradley Beal.