Yesterday, we reported that Washington Wizards promising rookie guard Bradley Beal, was shut down by the team for the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his fibula, which many believe was direct result of his body compensating for his two bad ankles.
Well, according to Pro Basketball Talk, Beal told J. Michael of CSNWashington.com that in hindsight, his decision to play through his ankle injuries wasn’t the right move.
“Should I have?” Beal said rhetorically. “No. But I was going to play regardless because I’m a hard-headed kid. That’s just how I am. I’m always competitive. I always want to play…
“I was glad that it was nothing too serious but I’m still upset by the fact that I can’t play. … I had a feeling it really wasn’t my ankle. It ended up being my fibula, but I’m glad its a stress reaction rather than a fracture or possibly broken. It’s nothing too painful. I can walk around, as long as I’m not running or jumping.”
It’s good that Beal learns this lesson now, while the Wizards stink, then down the line when they still stink but not as much as they have been for much of their existence. There’s a lot of glory that comes with being labeled as a “tough guy,” but there’s also a lot of regret, pity, and what ifs that accompanies those who are injury plagued.