28 March 2023 , 15:30
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Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal is being investigated by police after the three-time All-Star allegedly struck a fan after a clash with the Orlando Magic last week.
According to the Orlando Police Department, a complaint was lodged against Beal on March 22 - a day after he confronted hecklers from the game against the Magic. The Wizards slipped to a 122-112 loss in Florida, with Beal scoring 16 points on 4-for-15 shooting, including 0-for-4 from three-point range.
The incident reportedly occurred as Beal was walking down a tunnel to the Wizards’ locker room at Orlando’s Amway Center. A group of men approached the 29-year-old and one member allegedly yelled: “You f***** me [out of] $1,300, you f***!”
Beal immediately turned and confronted the fan, labelling his comment as ‘disrespectful’ while continuing to go back and forth with the group. He reportedly then knocked a hat from one man’s head as the pair continued to clash. According to TMZ, Beal said: “Keep it a buck. I don’t give a f*** about none of your bets or your parlays, bro. That ain't why I play the game.”
Beal was then swiftly ushered away to avoid an escalation of the situation given the tension between the two parties as they continued to exchange words. The star reportedly went back and forth with the fan for around 50 seconds before he was led into the Wizards' locker room.
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Beal is now being investigated by the Orlando Police Department (OPD) for battery because his hand allegedly made contact with the gambler's head when he swatted at the man's hat. The alleged victim contacted police and lodged the complaint the next day, with the police taking a report for battery to begin their investigation.
Bradley Beal reportedly clashed with the fan after the Washington Wizards lost to the Orlando Magic last week (AP)Police watched cell phone footage of the incident while they also went to the Amway Center in order to see the clash on surveillance video, but the incident occurred off camera.
The alleged victim reportedly told police he wants to press charges against Beal, while authorities noted there was enough probable cause to charge Bradley with ‘simple battery,’ and charges are set to be filed with the State Attorney's Office. Mirror Sport have reached out to the Orlando Police Department for comment.
Amid the clash with the fan, Beal - who hasn’t suited up since the loss in Orlando - has enjoyed a solid individual season as he averages 23.2 points per game to go with 5.4 assists. However, the Wizards have struggled and possess a 33-42 record.
The former Florida Gators star is currently in the first year of a five-year deal worth $251million, which was signed before the start of the 2022/23 season. Beal’s Wizards take on the high-flying Boston Celtics in their next contest on Tuesday night.