Wizards Welcoming D.C. Favorites Beal and Durant With Suns

The Washington Wizards are focused on their season, of course, but with the return of former player Bradley Beal and native son Kevin Durant, the attention is split.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Washington Wizards would love nothing more than for D.C. fans to focus on them and them alone.

But with the Phoenix Suns in town Sunday afternoon Wizards coach Brian Keefe understands the return of guard Bradley Beal for the first time since being traded is going to garner some interest.

And he hopes the attention it draws from the Washington crowd is positive.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) hug during the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center / Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

"I'm hopeful the crowd is super supportive of (Beal)," Keefe says. "Played here a long time, I wasn't here with him myself, but I know the impact he made on the community and this organization. We should give him a big round of applause for sure."

Beal spent his first 11 seasons with the Wizards earning three NBA All-Star appearances along the way. 

With the franchise looking to turn the page toward a new era, however, the star guard was sent to the Suns in one of several offseason deals that effectively reshaped the roster and pointed the organization toward its new destination.

In 25 games with Phoenix Beal has averaged just 17.1 points per game but also has the fourth-best field goal percentage of his career thus far. 

Superstar forward Kevin Durant's career has taken away from D.C., but the local kid remains a hometown favorite while playing with the Seattle Supersonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and now the Suns.

Durant and coach Keefe first crossed paths with the Thunder, a time he says stands out to him to this day.

"I was with him at the beginning of my career so I have tremendous gratitude for being around him for a long time," Keefe says of that time. "There is no accident that he is the player he's become and who he is."

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Keefe said he's looking forward to his Washington roster getting the opportunity to go up against Beal, Durant, and a Phoenix squad considered to be one of the better units in the NBA.

Many in attendance are looking forward to seeing the contest, but are equally excited about seeing the return of two DMV favorites. Of course, as it pertains to Beal most are also hoping to see their Wizards steal the win from his homecoming moment.

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