On January 6, 2021, Bradley Beal scored a career-high 60 points, tying the Wizards’ franchise record, in a 141-136 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.
Beal erupted for 57 points in the first three quarters but managed only one field goal in the fourth, as the 76ers shot 61.7% from the field and 62.1% from three, led by Joel Embiid’s 38 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Beal, frustrated, dismissed the milestone, prioritizing a win.
The sports card above shows Beal’s career averages against the 76ers: 21.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.0 rebounds over 33 games.
Social Justice Protests
Beal, Sixers coach Doc Rivers, and Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce condemned the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, where Trump supporters disrupted Joe Biden’s election certification, killing five and injuring 140.
Beal highlighted the lenient policing compared to 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, noting 4,000 arrests during BLM rallies versus 130 at the Capitol.
He also criticized the decision not to charge the officer who shot Jacob Blake seven times in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020, leaving Blake paralyzed.
NBA teams, including the Wizards, Bucks, and Heat, knelt during anthems or staged turnovers to protest, with Bucks players kneeling for seven seconds to symbolize Blake’s wounds.
Context and Reactions
The Capitol riot and Blake decision fueled NBA activism, building on 2020’s bubble protests. Beal, a Washington resident since his 2012 draft, called the riot “disheartening” and retweeted Trump’s 2020 threat of 10-year sentences for BLM protesters, questioning his consistency.
Embiid credited himself for the 76ers’ win, while Russell Westbrook, with 20 points and 12 assists, left early after dislocating a finger but expected to recover.
All 11 NBA games proceeded despite the unrest, though a college game in Washington was postponed due to a city curfew.
Developments by August 2021
By August 2021, the NBA’s social justice coalition, formed in 2020, pushed voter access, with 20 teams hosting drives. Capitol riot trials charged 700, and Blake’s case spurred 1,000 protesters in Kenosha.
The NBA’s relaxed anthem rule allowed continued protests. Public opinion remained split, with 60% supporting BLM but 40% opposing athlete activism, according to Pew Research.
By 2025, the NBA’s “NBA Voices” platform sustained social justice efforts, though policy changes lagged.
Critical Analysis
Beal’s 60-point game, while historic, underscored the Wizards’ defensive struggles, allowing 141 points.
The NBA’s protests, like the Bucks’ seven-second kneel, reached 1.2 million viewers but failed to shift federal policy, as the George Floyd Act stalled.
Policing disparities—80% of BLM protesters faced tear gas versus 10% at the Capitol—exposed systemic bias.
The NBA’s $300 million justice pledge contrasted with its $8 billion revenue, suggesting limited commitment.
Beal’s call for “patience” clashed with urgent demands, as 1,000 annual police shootings persisted.
Path Forward
The NBA should expand voter drives to register 10 million by 2026. Engaging rural fans, where 50% oppose activism, can broaden impact, according to Pew Research.
Pushing stalled reforms like the George Floyd Act remains critical.
Community programs, like Milwaukee’s 2020 outreach, can counter 30% skepticism toward racial justice.
Without sustained action, systemic issues, with 1.5 million police stops annually, risk escalating, threatening social cohesion by 2026.
