National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards Media Day 2016: John Wall, Bradley Beal Deny Beef

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Washington Wizards stars, John Wall and Bradley Beal, both shot down the idea of a supposed “beef” during the team’s media day.

Talent and coaching are arguably two of the most important factors for winning basketball games in the NBA. Somewhere in-between lies chemistry; something that cannot be measured by any advanced statistic, but merely felt in the locker room.

This past summer, John Wall and Bradley Beal – two of the Washington Wizards‘ highest paid players – made headlines for openly talking about their lack of on-court chemistry.

Immediately, people began to question whether or not one of the East’s best duos would be able to move past their discrepancies and lead their team to tangible success, just like they did during the 2014 and ’15 NBA seasons.

To those within the locker room, like Marcin Gortat, the supposed “beef” didn’t come as a surprise.

“I heard this one comment that we have moments that we dislike each other on the court and it is true. It’s nothing crazy that we have to panic,” Gortat told reporters in a media day scrum.

“It’s a bigger story than it really is. Me, John and Brad, we say this to each other all the time and we work with that. We function around each other all the time. It’s not like we hate each other, but we have those moments. Listen, these guys are growing up as basketball players,” Gortat said.

“I’m not growing up, but I am a 10-year veteran. Situations like that, you’re going to have it on the team. It was like that and it’s probably going to be like that again, but it doesn’t mean we can’t win basketball games. It’s just how you’re going to work this thing out.”

Beal signed a $130 million extension this summer, but numbers, according to Gortat, have never been an issue for the team.

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“It won’t affect us at all. I’m not focused on that at all,” Gortat said.

“We will be fine. We never talk about money in the locker room. We had a lot of issues, but we don’t talk about money in the locker room”

It’s all about who we are and what we do. We all know John [Wall] is going to be a max player when he’s done. Hopefully I’m going to get eight digits when I’m done too,” Gortat said laughing.

Wall and Beal, both of whom spoke to reporters separately in the Washington Wizards’ media room, shot down the idea of a supposed “beef” as well.

Beal compared his relationship to Wall to the relationships he has with his brothers.

“You don’t always get alone with your bigger brother or your little brother, but you know you love them at the end of the day,” Beal said. “That’s how John and I are. We don’t always agree on the court and you’re not always going to agree with Coach Brooks. At the end of the day, we’re back court mates. We’re teammates. We’re the two leaders of the team.”

Wall echoed that sentiment.

Both players, and their teammates, are adamant that the “beef” discussed this summer is behind them.

As the season approaches and training camp begins on Tuesday, the disagreements must be put aside. Luckily for the Washington Wizards, their two best players are ready to move forward.

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