Once upon a time John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter collectively were the ‘big three’ of the Washington Wizards. The trio peaked during the 2016-17 season in which they became one game away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
Those days seemed like eons ago for many Washington and NBA fans. Now the trio has been split. Yet, on Friday they were in the same arena at the TD Garden in Boston for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Wall and Beal were in the stands taking in the battle between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics as spectators.
Meanwhile, Porter was playing in the game, donning a Warriors uniform. Porter got the start over Kevon Looney. Porter finished with two points on 0-of-2 shooting, an assist and one rebound in 15 minutes.
Beal, who is the lone player of the trio that remains with the Wizards, was in attendance supporting his fellow St. Louis native, Celtics star Jayson Tatum.
Wall was enjoying the spectacle. However, after the Warriors’ 107-97 win, he was seen dapping up with Golden State’s emotional leader Draymond Green.
Wall and Green are also connected as members of the Klutch Sports Group agency. The two are represented by super-agent Rich Paul.
The sight of Wall, Beal and Porter surely brought back memories for Wizards fans. Also thoughts of what could have been brewed seeing them in the same arena during the NBA Finals. A destination that together they couldn’t reach.
Separated, neither hasn’t had quite the same success. Porter bounced to Chicago and Orlando after Washington before landing with Golden State. He’ll be a free agent at season’s end.
Wall sat out of the season, despite being healthy, at the request of his current team, the Houston Rockets. He’ll be working to find a solution with the Rockets to get back on the court most likely with another team.
Then there is Beal. He is entering this summer as a free agent, but is eligible to receive a $242 million, five-year extension to remain with the Wizards. Or he could choose to sign elsewhere for about $180 million over four years.
A reunion seems like a pipedream. But it was good and yet sorrowing seeing the three together during the Finals, yet, without wearing Washington Wizards uniforms.
