Bradley Beal preparing himself for emotional return game against Washington Wizards

WASHINGTON — Bradley Beal became a man — and the man — in Washington.

He arrived in the nation's capital as the third overall pick out of Florida in 2012, not even of legal age to drink alcohol at 19.

Beal literally grew up in Washington, made his mark in the community and got buckets like no one ever has for the Wizards. The franchise’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made with 1,514, Beal is second in career points (15,391), steals (772) and third in games played (695).

Washington made the playoffs five times in Beal’s 11 seasons. The three-time All-Star made All-NBA in 2020-21 the season he averaged a career-high 31.3 points.

Mix and cook all that up and the new Phoenix Suns star guard will receive one of those warm and super fuzzy receptions in his return game Sunday afternoon against the Wizards (9-39) at Capital One Arena — whether he’s ready for it or not.

“Honestly, (Friday) is probably the first day it hit me, just getting closer to it,” Beal said after Friday’s 129-120 loss at Atlanta. “Being back in the building, seeing familiar faces. I have no idea what to expect, to feel, but I’m kind of going in with just an open mind, open heart. Embracing all the feels, embracing the love. Whatever I get, you know, being thankful the moments that we had here and just take it all in.”

'Embrace what you did in D.C.'

The Suns moved Chris Paul in a blockbuster offseason trade to Washington that signaled the formation of a Big 3 for Phoenix in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Beal, who lifted his no-trade clause to enable the deal.

“It’s tough because I don’t like patting myself on the back or kind of gaslighting myself, but take your time and embrace what you did in D.C. and just be in the moment,” Beal continued. “That’s what my biggest goal is.”

This will be the finale of Phoenix’s season-long, seven-game road trip. The Suns have split the first six.

“He’s going to be locked in and ready to go,” Booker said about Beal. “We’re going to rally behind him. We obviously know what’s at stake. He’s done a lot for that franchise and that organization so he should be welcomed with the love that he deserves.”

Beal is struggling with a broken nose suffered during this trip — and his shot.

Since the fourth quarter of last week’s loss at Indiana when Pacers big Myles Turner’s elbow cracked his nose, Beal is shooting 31.7% from the field (20-of-63).

“He's a soldier, man,” Durant said after Friday’s loss. “He could've easily took a game off in Orlando. Taken the rest of the game off in Indiana and we would’ve understood, but he wanted to be out there with us, gain his rhythm. He’s going through a lot with his nose.”

'It's not easy what he's doing'

Beal wore a makeshift mask against the Magic following the Pacers game before getting a custom one for the Miami game in the second of a back-to-back.

“We’re behind him,” Durant continued. “We want him to continue to keep being aggressive. Once he gets comfortable with the mask and his nose and all of that, I think things will be sweet for us.”

Beal is 2-of-26 from three during this stretch of four games and that fourth quarter against the Pacers. He blanked from deep — 0-for-7 — Friday.

“He's battling,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said after Friday’s game. “He's playing with a broken nose. Got popped again tonight. Had to come out. Bleeding. It's not easy what he's doing. A lot of guys would not be in there, but he’s battling. Trying to impact the game with his defense and his passing, but he’s struggling to knock down his 3s, but you’ve got to credit him for toughing this out and participating."

No excuses, but still, the nose has been nauseating Beal’s play. He committed four turnovers Friday.

“It sucks man,” said Beal, who played through a broken nose and wearing a mask while with the Wizards in the 2015-16 season.

“I'd be naive if I said it doesn’t have a little effect. Still got to go hoop. Plenty of guys who have hooped with a mask and had success and done well. I got to step it up and be better. I know it’s tough. I got hit in it. Can’t control that, but I can control my play, my change of pace, not turn the ball over. I’ve got to be better, man. I’ve got to be a lot better."

'Make a difference for us in a lot of ways'

Back issues and a right ankle sprain sidelined Beal for 21 games. Not an ideal way to start his first season in Phoenix, but he hasn’t missed a game since Dec. 27 at Houston.

The 6-4 guard from St. Louis is averaging 18 points — and impacted winning — since returning from the ankle injury suffered Dec. 15 against the Knicks that sidelined him five games.

The Suns are 13-6 since Beal came back.

“I told ya’ll before Bradley Beal will make a difference for us in a lot of ways,” said Suns big Jusuf Nurkic after Beal’s season-high 37-point blast in a Jan. 11 victory at the Lakers. “Offense and defense, he’s a big guard who can play both.”

The first of those five games Beal missed with the ankle injury was against the Wizards, thus making Sunday’s matchup his first against Washington since the trade.

“I’m excited for him, man,” Durant said as this is a homecoming game for him being he’s from the Washington area.

“Growing up in that area, I know how important the Wizards are to the youth and how much that respect guys that play for the team. Brad has left his mark in D.C. over the past decade. It’s going to be cool to see the reception for him when he comes back. Look forward to going out there and playing our best for him so we can get this W.”

'He's going to figure it out'

The Suns started this season with Booker as the primary ball handler and facilitator. He’s having a career year in averaging 28.2 points and 7.2 assists, was just named an All-Star for the fourth time, but his recent offensive surge is half of a backcourt equation that has Beal handling the ball more.

“We’re trending that way,” Vogel said. “We’re pushing that and we’re telling our guys we like to see more of that, especially against pressure. We want (Beal) to grab the ball and be the primary guy to break the pressure and organize us, but I think the way Book has been scoring the ball and my desire to get the ball in Brad’s hands more, both things fit. I do want (Beal) handling it more.”

As a result, Beal is averaging 6.3 assists in his last six games, delivering a season-high 10 dimes Friday against the Hawks to go along with 14 points for his first double-double of the season.

“This team presents a unique challenge to everybody when you have three prolific scorers like that,” Suns wing Josh Okogie said. “Everybody has to find that balance between not giving up what they do, but also still being very aggressive. I think Brad is just in the process of doing that. I feel like he’s been great for us in being that primary ball handler and taking that responsibility and being able to get a bucket at will when we need him to.”

Averaging 4.3 assists for his career, Beal is delivering 4.6 this season that’s trending upward.

“Having played against Brad throughout my career, even when he was on the ball a lot and shot the ball a lot in Washington, he still made plays, great passes,” Okogie said. “He just knows how to play basketball and I just feel like when you know how to play basketball, for a guy like him, it doesn’t matter where you put him. He’s going to figure it out.”

'He was their guy'

So, Beal has had an eventful first eight months with his new team that’s across the country from the one that helped raise him, but he’s back in D.C. where his NBA career began.

“He was their guy,” Suns guard Eric Gordon said. “He was there when they weren’t good and then they became a playoff team for years. I expect nothing but great fanfare for him.”

When the Wizards traded Beal to Phoenix last summer, Wizards team owner Ted Leonsis gave him a resounding sendoff in the team new release announcing the deal.

“Bradley leaves a legacy and impact that will continue to be felt by those he helped during the 11 seasons we watched him develop into a cornerstone of our on-court and off-court efforts,” Leonsis said. “We appreciate and respect the place he holds in our franchise’s history and we’re proud that he established himself as a star player, community leader and family man in Washington, D.C.”

The Suns traded Landry Shamet, four first round pick swaps, six second round picks and Paul to the Wizards for Beal and Jordan Goodwin.

Washington later moved Paul to Golden State and got Jordan Poole in return.

“From afar, I’ve admired Bradley as an All-NBA player and a difference-maker in his communities,” team president Michael Winger said in the news release.

Beal received the 2018-19 season-long NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner while in Washington.

“We were pleased to work together to find a deal that moved us closer to our goal of eventually competing for championships while getting Bradley to a place where he’ll be able to do so immediately.  We wish Bradley and his entire family the best of luck in Phoenix and thank him on behalf of the organization, the fans and the city of Washington for his immeasurable contributions.”

Between the injuries, poor shooting and role change, Beal’s start in Phoenix has been uneven. On Sunday, he will be remembered and celebrated for his time with the Wizards before continuing to help the Suns achieve something he couldn’t in Washington – win an NBA championship.

“I’m trying to find ways to balance it, not get too rattled, especially if they’re doing it before the game,” a smiling Beal said. “I want to try to stay locked in as much as possible. I’m sure it’ll be a special moment. I’ll embrace it all and be ready to go.”

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bradley Beal looks to 'embrace' return to Washington D.C. to face Wizards