In an otherwise desultory Wizards season, a few positive signs for the future have emerged. Chief among these is the performance of guard Bradley Beal, whose production over an extended period has begun to match his reputation as one of the game’s best guards.
Beal took the first step when backcourt make John Wall left the lineup for heel surgery. In the 39 games since then, he’s averaged 28.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 3.2 turnovers per game. While carrying a heavy offensive burden (29.6 percent usage rate), Beal posted above average efficiency — an offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions) of 115 and effective field goal percentage of .