The Washington Wizards are back working out on a more defined basis at their practice facility in Southeast, D.C. and their franchise player Bradley Beal is unsure if he will play in the NBA restart in Orlando. Although Beal explained it is not for social justice reasons, it is a reminder that the two-time All-Star is more than just a basketball player. Beal spearheaded the organization's response to the Black Lives Matter movement and has been finding ways to make an impact in the community.
Maybe a part of that is fueled by Beal's own experience as a black man in 21st century America. In his first public media availability since the NBA shut down in March, Beal shed more light on a story he first told on Juneteenth when he let a group of Wizards and Mystics on a march from Capital One Arena to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial two miles away.
Now multiple years ago, but still once an established star on the Wizards, Beal was pulled over on I-495, the DC area beltway. The reason given by the officer was an illegal tint. Instead of Beal receiving a ticket and moving on with his day, the officer had Beal, his wife Kamiah, and friend exit the vehicle so that it could be searched. Quite literally loitering on the side of the busiest area highway, Beal asked if he could put his hood on to provide some disguise. Once asking and finding out who Beal was, the officer asked how much the max contract guard made and eventually told Beal, 'I can arrest your ass right now and f**k up your headline and have you on SportsCenter on Monday.'
You can hear Beal's full story as told on his Zoom conference call below.