As a part of Gatorade’s Beat the Heat campaign, Wiz of Awes was given the opportunity to chat with Bradley Beal. Osman Baig (@obtoojiveforyou) took care of the interview for us. Enjoy.

Oz: You were compared to Ray Allen coming into the NBA. Since then your overall game has grown and I thought it was particularly highlighted by your play when John Wall was out in the Atlanta series. Games 3 and 4 in particular when John was out you showed a great deal of playmaking skills that show the growth in your overall game.

Where do you see your game going and what are your goals individually?

Bradley Beal: I just have to get better at everything. Nothing is perfect. The biggest thing I want to do is be able to create more for my teammates and myself. Being able to put the ball on the floor and get guys going a bit and that’s the biggest thing probably I want to work on.

Oz: The Wizards have had two pretty successful playoff appearances the last two postseasons. Did this year’s loss to Atlanta feel similar to the loss versus Indiana or did the injury circumstances surrounding the series leave a bad taste? How do you feel coming out of this postseason versus last?

Bradley Beal: Pretty much the same as last year man. Disappointed. Wishing that we can advance and knowing that we were just one game away from doing so. It’s always frustrating. We had it right in our hands, we feel like we should have won the series.

We feel like we could have been playing for the championship but things didn’t fall our way. We definitely still have that bad feeling of loss but we won’t accept defeat and we’re going to continue to get better and hopefully next year be ready, prepared to do whatever’s necessary to get over this hump.

Oz: Along those lines, what do you think the team and you have do to take the next step?

Bradley Beal: As a team we have to want it more. We have to have that drive and passion to want to win, to want to get the championship because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about in the playoffs. It’s not about X’s and O’s and what plays you’re going to run.

It’s about who wants it the most and who’s going to go out there and do whatever it takes to win. It’s not always about talent, it’s not always about skill. It’s about heart and desire and do you want it and that’s what we have to do and I know next year I’m going to have to do that.

I have to lead by example, I have to continue to get better and hopefully I’ll be playing at an elite level and one of the best guards in the league and that’s definitely my goal.

Oz: Paul Pierce said regarding you and John that you have to make up your mind about being good or being great. What did you specifically take from that as his message to you and what did you learn from him this past season?

Bradley Beal: This past year’s been great. I enjoyed playing with him. Great guy, great mentor, great leader. He was a huge part to our team; I took a lot from him. I was picking his brain a lot just getting to learn what it takes to be a future hall of famer, what it takes to win a championship.

He’s done it all and he’s terrific. We’re upset we lost him but at the end of the day we have to continue to move forward. I definitely will sit here and say I learned a lot from him and he definitely helped our team a lot, just in terms of having that confidence and that swagger to know that we’re the best team on the floor.

Oz: Do you feel liked you’re ready to assume that Closer Role on?

Bradley Beal: I think so, I think so. You know it’s just a matter of confidence, like I said at the end of the day basketball is I think 80% confidence and 20% skill. You have to go out there and just have fun and believe that you can go out there and be the best that you can be.

Oz: Otto Porter is next in-line to step into Paul Pierce’s role. You’ve been familiar with Otto dating back to your AAU days where you tried to recruit Otto. He played great in the playoffs but now that he’s looking to take on a larger role with the starters, what can he bring to the floor that fans and people who cover the team may not have seen yet from him?

Bradley Beal: I think that he can probably score in an iso situation probably better than what people give him credit. He can post up. He is 6’9″. He knows how to use his length to his advantage and I think he’s going to be a terrific scorer for us next year.

We just need him to continue to get better and continue to get stronger and do what he needs to do. I mean everything else is fine, he played great this year and we need him to continue to get better like everybody.

Oz: Talking about another, new teammate of yours; you and Kelly Oubre Jr. share the same trainer. I’m guessing you had a little more familiarity with him and his game heading into the draft. What can you tell us about his game?

Bradley Beal: I haven’t worked out, worked out with him but just watching him and hearing about him I think he’ll be great for us. I think he’s a great defender. I’ve seen he can put the ball on the floor, he can shoot it pretty well and that’s what we need, we need somebody that could come in and give us energy and someone who comes in and just wants to win, because that’s what we’re all about, that’s what we want to do.

I can tell from draft night hearing what he was saying that he’s ready to go, he’s motivated so hopefully from Day 1 and over the summer he can continue to get better and do what we need him to do to help us progress and forward.

Oz: Your college coach Billy Donovan is the head coach of the Thunder now. How do you think he’ll do in his transition and are you excited to see your old college coach take on this role?

Bradley Beal: I am. I’m super excited. I’m happy for him. He definitely deserves it. I think he’s in a great organization, and I’m curious to see how well he does. I’m a huge supporter, I’m happy for him and I hope he has the utmost amount of success here except for when we play them, hopefully we beat them. But it’s great to see him finally take that step and follow his dream as well.

Oz: You have an exhibition in South Africa this summer if I’m right, can you tell me a little about it?

Bradley Beal: The NBA invited me to go play in an all-star game over there in South Africa. I think it’s me, Chris Paul, Kenneth Faried, Loul Deng, and Serge Ibaka. I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be great. I think we’ll be there 5-7 days running clinics a few days and then on top of that playing in an all-star game. It’s our first world global game over there and I’m happy to be a part of it.

Oz: To wrap things up I have a little fill-in the blank question for you to wrap things up. The Wizards are in the NBA Finals holding the championship trophy within the next ___ years?

Bradley Beal: You know I’m going to say next year.

Oz: There you have it, Bradley Beal has guaranteed a championship next year.

Thanks to Gatorade for setting this up, and thanks to Bradley Beal for taking the time.