Brooks: Beal being an All-Star starter is 'best news' of season so far originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Now in his fifth season as head coach of the Wizards, Scott Brooks has seen Bradley Beal go from a guy who had never averaged 20 points a game to now the NBA's leading scorer and a first-time starter in the All-Star game.
Though he feels like the recognition Beal received as a starter was one year late, he was elated to see his star guard get respect from fans, fellow players and the media.
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"It’s the best news of the early start of our year. It’s well-deserved and earned. He puts a lot of time into it. He’s an elite player, he’s a special player, a special person. I’m happy for him and his family, wife and kids, his parents, his brothers. That’s such a great honor," Brooks said.
Brooks pointed out how there are 450 players in the NBA, but only 10 starters. It is an elite class of players, as only 2.2% of the league gets the honor.
"The players, they know it. The fans can see it and see what he puts into it and can see every game. He doesn’t make any excuses when things have happened to us this year. He still comes in and does his job," Brooks said.
Brooks was referring to the Wizards being well under .500 at 9-17, but also the fact they dealt with a devastating outbreak of the coronavirus that affected most of their rotation and forced six games to be postponed. It was a heavy dose of adversity, yet Beal has managed to average 32.8 points per game, tops in the NBA.
While last season the Wizards' record may have been held against Beal in both All-Star and All-NBA voting, this time it did not affect his chances as he led all Eastern Conference guards in voting. Last year, he was ninth.
Now, he is no longer known as an All-Star snub. He's an All-Star starter.
"I’m proud of him. I’m proud of how he carries himself. He’s just a great, great leader and a person to lead our team," Brooks said.
