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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate after a basket in the second half against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate after a basket in the second half against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Bradley Beal Thinks He and John Wall Are Best Backcourt in NBA

Alec NathanJun 9, 2017

Bradley Beal was oozing with confidence throughout the Washington Wizards' second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, and he's still exuding it weeks into the offseason.Ā 

In a post on his blog Friday, Beal asserted he and John Wall currently comprise the NBA's best backcourt.Ā 

"If we want to be the best backcourt in the NBA, we've got to show up every night and prove it, constantly put the work in, and continue to challenge each other to get better," Beal wrote.Ā 

"And that's how we feel right now. We are the best backcourt in the league.Ā That's just the confidence and the approach that we have. We know that there's a handful of talented guards in the league, and we're not taking anything away from them. But we feel like we're the best backcourt, and you'll never hear us say anything different."Ā 

The Golden State Warriors (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson), Portland Trail Blazers (Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum), Boston Celtics (Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley) and Toronto Raptors (impending free agent Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan) would likely disagree with Beal's assessment, but the Wizards 2 can certainly make a compelling case.Ā 

Just take a look at the numbers Wall and Beal posted during the 2016-17 season:Ā 

  • Bradley Beal: 23.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 48.2 FG%, 40.4 3P%,Ā 20.1 PER
  • John Wall: 23.1 PPG, 10.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 45.1 FG%, 32.7 3P%,Ā 23.2 PER

Examined more in-depth, Wall was theĀ onlyĀ playerĀ this past season to average at least 20 points, 10 dimes and two steals. Beal, meanwhile, joined McCollum as theĀ only two snipersĀ to average at least 20 points on better than 48 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from three.Ā 

The icing on the cake, then, would be the Wizards'Ā net ratingĀ of plus-4.3 points per 100 possessions and team-best offensive rating of 112.9 during the 2,362 regular-season minutes Wall and Beal shared the floor.

Stats courtesy ofĀ Basketball-Reference.comĀ andĀ NBA.com.Ā 

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