On Dec. 5, Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal set a new career-high of 51 points in a win against the Portland Trail Blazers--it was the most by a visiting player since Kobe Bryant (47 points) and most points in Portland by an opponent since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (49 points).
Since his time in the NBA, he's always been an average player, to say the least. His rookie year he averaged 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He was even named to the 2012-13 All-Rookie team, which definitely should've gotten people's attention, if it didn't.
Even former All-Star Paul Pierce believes Beal should be named to the All-Star team this year per NBC Sports Washington:
"I think he should be an All-Star this year without a doubt," Pierce explained.
Not only did The Truth say that, but he also thinks Beal as the top two-guard in the Eastern Conference per NBC Sports Washington:
"With Dwyane Wade holding that crown for years, being the top two-guard, I think Bradley Beal should be holding that crown now as the top two-guard in all of the East."
So far this season, Beal joins the 50-point club with Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (57) and Houston Rockets' James Harden (56).
With All-Star teammate John Wall out with a knee discomfort, Beal will have to step up and help out his team without second help and, so far, he's showing the world exactly what needs to be seen.
"He's taking his game to a whole new level," The Starters on NBA.com discussed. "He has it going on. No one, no one can really stop him. Of all the hesitation moves, step-backs... 'Real Deal' is the Beal."
Beal's only other competition for first-time All-Stars include Kristaps Porzingis, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris--okay that's a tough competition. Maybe we should just put all of them in this year's squad.