Wizards guard Bradley Beal expressed his concerns about returning to play in Orlando. Brad Mills-USA TODAY

Wizards' Bradley Beal hasn't yet decided to play in NBA restart

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/1/20

With players around the NBA — not to mention leagues such as the NHL and Major League Soccer — contemplating whether or not to participate in summer return-to-play formats amid the coronavirus pandemic, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal told reporters during a Wednesday Zoom video conference call that he hasn't yet made his decision on what he'll do:

"I am still working my tail off every single day as if I am playing," Beal said. "It is more or less going to be a decision that comes down to the medical staff and I, just because of our precautions and coming back from zero to 100, and then I had some nagging stuff from the end of the year that we are trying to clean up, too.

"We are looking at it from all angles. I am definitely working out every single day here. It is good to be back in the facility. But, I am not swayed one way or another."

As ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reported, Beal won't make his call based on any social-justice discussions occurring around the United States following the killing of George Floyd. The 27-year-old Beal does not, however, love the idea of quarantining at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex:

"That is where a lot of guys are concerned about. We can't just leave. We can't just order whatever food we want. We can't just do activities in which we want to do. We can't go to our teammate's room.

"Like there is a lot of (stuff) that we can't do. So it's tough. I get from a mental awareness standpoint that you are so used to doing this on the road, now you are constrained and restricted."

The Wizards (24-40 when the NBA halted play on March 11 because of the uncontrolled virus outbreak) must get to within four games of the bottom seed to force a play-in series for the Eastern Conference's last postseason spot.

Washington currently trails the Orlando Magic by 5 1/2 games.

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