How Monte Morris’ relationship evolved with Bradley Beal during his first season
How Morris’ relationship evolved with Beal during his first season in D.C. originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
At the conclusion of his sixth NBA season and first as a Washington Wizard, it did not take guard Monte Morris long to establish relationships with his new teammates and coaches. There was one relationship in particular that stood out and that was the connection Morris made with the Wizards' leader Bradley Beal.
It’s not always the easiest transition to make going from one city and then moving to a new one. When the Wizards acquired Morris in a deal with the Denver Nuggets back in June 2022, Morris knew it would take time to get acclimated and build chemistry with his teammates, both on and off the court.
“Ever since he got here, he’s wanted to feel welcomed,” Beal said on Morris. “He’s kind of looked at me to give him that stamp of approval to go out and be himself and showcase that he can help us.”
Morris was in a good situation in Denver, getting to share the court alongside back-to-back MVP winner Nikola Jokic. Being traded though is all a part of the business at the end of the day. Rather than viewing the trade as a betrayal, Morris viewed it as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for him to display what he can really do with the basketball.
“Now he’s in a new situation where he can kind of re-shine again and develop that confidence back,” Beal said. “I just try to push that. He’s an awesome player, he’s a good player in our league, he will be around for a long, long time that’s for sure.”
When joining a new team, it often seems like the most logical decision is to befriend the best player and have them take you under their wing. Befriending a veteran in Beal – one of the Wizards' best scorers of all time -- is one of the better routes to take. In addition to the fact that Beal will settle for nothing but the best from his teammates. If Morris wants to continue to elevate his game, he must learn from the best to be the best.
During his tenure in Denver, Morris backed up point guard Jamal Murray and learned a lot from what he was able to do as a scorer and as the primary ball handler. From one elite scoring guard to the next, now it’s time for Morris to do the same under the Wizards’ three-time All-Star. Morris knew it would take time for Beal to warm up to him and build that trust, both from a basketball and brotherhood standpoint.
“We kind of got that energy where it’s like once you meet somebody you know they cool but you still feel them out,” Morris said on getting to know Beal. “But now we joke, we talk a lot, we got a lot of inside jokes without even speaking. That little stuff right there goes a long way on the court.”
The injury bug was unfortunately contagious in Washington this past season, with Morris playing in 62 of the 82 games. He averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds in about 27.4 minutes per game at the end of his first rodeo in Washington. Morris showed he was more than capable of being in the starting lineup, a starter in all but one of his 62 games this season.
Beal missed 32 games due to injuries, but the two guards showed they can be a very dangerous backcourt when healthy. They will aim to get their bodies right in the offseason and continue to build on the chemistry they established in their first season together.
“I’m just excited to kind of get a chance to run it back with him,” Morris said on Beal. “Just pick up where we kind of left off but closer in a relationship standpoint. He can get on me, I can get on him and it’s all love. Now I feel like our relationship is to that point, but like I said everything takes time.”
