Skip to main content

Wizards’ Davis Bertans is ready to put forgettable 2020-21 season behind him

By Andrew Gillis

Davis Bertans is ready to put last season behind him originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Davis Bertans had a year to forget last season. 

His field goal percentage was the lowest in his career. His 3-point shooting percentage was the lowest since the 2017-18 season and the second-lowest of his career. He ended the year with a calf injury and spent half the summer getting it into playing shape. 

Now, with a new coach and new supporting cast, he’s ready to put it all behind him.

“Last year was one of those years you kind of want to forget,” Bertans said Monday at Wizards Media Day. “At the end of my career, I can say, ‘OK, that one year was something out of the ordinary.’ I don’t think you’re ever going to have a shooter that goes the whole season long, and all eight, nine months of shooting at 45, 50 percent. There’s always going to be that dip in the percentages. That kind of tests you a little bit.”

Bertans, one of the only reliable 3-point shooters for the Wizards last season, will now be flanked by a host of new shooters, including first-round pick Corey Kispert and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season.

And since a few of those new additions were added through trade, Bertans is hopeful that they’ll be properly motivated. After all, he knows what it’s like to be traded, and as he said, given up on a little bit. 

With new coach Wes Unseld Jr., Bertans has a clean slate and healthy body to get ready for the season.

“Talked to [Unseld] briefly, just being around him during the practice, him just having us in,” Bertans said of his new coach. “He asked most people to come in as early as possible so we can get used to the coaches. He’s asking for ball movement, which I think is a great thing in basketball.”

When asked if he was in the best shape of his career, Bertans added it was certainly the most he’s worked on his body in one offseason. Now, he’ll get the chance to prove it.

Bradley Beal ‘beyond proud’ of Jordan Goodwin’s emergence during his absence

By Bijan Todd
Beal ‘beyond proud’ of Goodwin’s emergence during his absence originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonLosing your star player for a handful of games due to health and safety protocols is never a good thing. The silver lining of when that scenario became reality for the Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal, though, was the emergence of Jordan Goodwin.Goodwin was a role player on the Wizards’ G-League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, just a year ago after going undrafted out of St. Louis. He played a grand total of six NBA minutes last season in D.C. This year, though, he got the nod for a serious bench role to help cope with Beal’s absence. He made, and continues to make, the most of the opportunity.Nobody is more proud of Goodwin’s surge than his mentor and friend — the same teammate whose bout with health protocols cleared the way for him.“I’m super proud, man,” Bradley Beal said of Goodwin after Washington’s 121-120 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. “Good is a tremendous guy. It makes me beyond proud to see his journey, being a part of his life since he was 14, 15 years old, maybe even younger. Just to see him transition to where he is now — a grown man, dad, playing in the NBA — like, who knew this would happen?”Beal and Goodwin have indeed been tight for about a decade. Beal mentored Goodwin since they both grew up in the St. Louis area. Goodwin has called Beal “a big brother” when discussing their bond.“Now he’s getting the opportunity to play, he’s getting the opportunity to showcase what he can do and taking full advantage of it. So I can’t be more proud of him,” Beal said. Goodwin quickly became the most popular guy in the Wizards’ locker room shortly after his breakout with Washington. His play on the court helped, too, as his tour-de-force came with a career night against Charlotte bookended by a few more dazzling performances. During the five games Bradley Beal missed, Goodwin stepped into a major bench role and helped power the Wizards to a 4-1 record over that span. Superb defensive play coupled with lights-out shooting (he shot 55% from the field over those five games) caught the attention of both coaches and the national media.Now that Beal has returned from health protocols and reconditioning, Goodwin’s minutes could diminish down the line. He still saw action for 20 minutes in the Oklahoma City loss, though, putting up four points and some sturdy defensive work.Goodwin’s impact on the Wizards during the early stages of the 2022-23 season can’t be understated, even if Beal’s return could relegate him to a deeper bench spot. For a player on a two-way contract, Goodwin struck while the iron was hot during Washington’s recent run, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.“I’m always tough on him, I’m always pushing him to continue to get better, continue to not be complacent,” Beal said. “Earn your name, earn your way here, ‘cause this is an opportunity given to you. I’m proud of him, man. I’m beyond proud, for sure.” 
Read Next Story

Related News

Bradley Beal ‘beyond proud’ of Jordan Goodwin’s emergence during his absence

Wizards show offensive potential in weekend of hot shooting

Corey Kispert finds his stroke, sparking best 3-point performance of Wizards’ season