While the mega-talented yet often-underachieving John Wall-Bradley Beal backcourt duo tries to raise the Washington Wizards, they're still trying to convince people they don't dislike each other.
Wall has taken to Twitter to debunk the topic in the past, while other reports say the discord is worse than imagined. One rumored sticking point has been the point guard's supposed jealousy of the shooting guard's contract - Beal's five-year, $127-million deal, signed this past summer.
Wall is stressing again that's not the case, pointing out the reality of the rising salary cap and the collective bargaining agreement.
"People always assumed why we weren't connecting," Wall told Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher. "People asked, 'Well, are you mad?' No, I'm not mad. I can't control the CBA. It's good timing for him."
Wall did, however, say the oft-injured Beal does have something to prove.
"All I'm saying is let him earn it," he said. "I didn't deserve it until I went out and made the All-Star Game and then they said, 'All right, he earned it.' Let him earn it. I had to earn mine."
Wall signed a then-max five-year, $85-million contract in 2013.
Wizards teammates back up Wall's assertion that Beal needs to take the next step.
"From the outside, it might've looked like John's way or no way," Markieff Morris said. "But now I'm in it, it's clear John wants Brad to step into that superstar role."
They may be on to something - Beal dropped a career-high 42 points in Monday's win over the Phoenix Suns. Consistency and health over the long run have been the challenges, however.
"Brad is probably the best scorer on the team, so that's who we have to try to get going," Wall said. "My job is to be the second guy, average around 20 points and get my teammates involved. Lead us on defense. That's my role."
