Washington Wizards Roster & Rumors for 2016-17 NBA Season: John Wall & Bradley Beal Continue to Dislike Each Other; Will On-Court Chemistry Issues Pull Down Team's Performance? [VIDEO]
Washington Wizards will heavily rely on guards John Wall and Bradley Beal in the upcoming 2016-17 NBA season. But problems may arise after both basketball stars admitted that they are still struggling to settle their chemistry issues on the court.
The Root of the Bad Blood
Per CSN Mid-Atlantic, Wall admitted that he and Beal have the tendency of disliking each other when playing on the court. The 25-year-old point guard said that they needed to figure out how to set aside their differences and work together as an All-Star tandem.
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Wall, who inked a five-year $80-million deal with the Wizards in 2013, stressed that he and Beal need to work on their chemistry as soon as the training camp starts. He stated that they have to understand each other and get on the same page to get rid of headaches in the upcoming seasons.
On the other hand, Beal, who recently re-signed to a $128-million max contract, acknowledged that working with Wall is tough because they are both alphas. The 23-year-old shooting guard commented that their bickering on the court is all about pride and the longing to be better than anyone else.
Beal disclosed that most of the times, he and Wall both overlooked the fact that they need each other as teammates. He added that they have to hash out their pride, figure out their team's goals and work together to achieve those goals.
Not a Problem
Drew Hanlen, NBA trainer and Beal's longtime shooting coach, told Washington Post that the latest revelations from the Wizards stars are no cause for concern. He said that the teammates are actually friends off the court and Beal has never said anything ill about Wall.
Hanlen is confident that the teammates will overcome their on-court chemistry issues. He stated that Beal is very much aware that he needs Wall to win more games in the upcoming season.
Cornerstones
Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report wrote that the bickering between the Wizards could worsen because of Beal's recent contract. Wall has been the face of the franchise since he was drafted in 2012, but Beal just turned the highest paid player of the team.
Zucker commented that Wall and Beal are the long-term cornerstones of the Wizards. He stressed that they have to build chemistry in the next season; else, it will be a serious problem to the franchise that ventured on them.
On the other hand, Danny Rouhier and Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan both agreed, via CBS DC, that Wall is the alpha in the pairing but Beal played a huge role to the point guard's success. They conceded that the latest revelations of the teammates are a nonissue unless the Wizards will end again into a lackluster season.
