Ever since Bradley Beal signed his supermax extension with the Washington Wizards this summer, the man who wears No. 3 for the Wizards has been all business, getting ready for a comeback season in which he hopes to put Washington back into the playoff conversation. But Brad recently opened up on the other side of his decision to stick in The District.

As part of a wide-ranging near hour-long interview with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter for Redick’s popular NBA podcast “The Old Man and The Three,” Brad revealed what went into his decision-making process, how often he has thought about leaving the Wizards, and why he ultimately chose to stay.

Brad was asked point blank by Redick if he ever had any doubts about coming back to D.C. (“I wouldn’t say doubt.”) and if he has thought about requesting a trade and forcing his way into a “team up” with another star player or players, which Brad admitted he has thought about. He also admitted to hearing the whispers about where he might be a fit: “I have a phone like everyone else.”

“I was definitely being human and thinking about what it would be like on the other side, and seeing what was available for me,” he said. “It’s a part of the game. I definitely gave it some thought. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.”

But ultimately after weighing his options in a market that “wasn’t promising,” and thinking about what options were on the table via a trade (those deals, it’s going to take a while for those things to get done”), he decided to put more equity in his decision to stay with the Wizards all this time and continue on with what they are building.

“Only one team gets to win and it’s not like I’m sitting here saying, ‘Oh we’re going to hold up a Larry [O’Brien Trophy] this year.’ That’s not what I’m sitting here saying. But I do believe in what we’re building. I do believe in what we have,” he said. “For me, it was just kind of figuring out where I fit best. And sure enough I feel like D.C. was it for me.”

Brad mentioned the opportunity to play with Kristaps Porzingis for the first time and some of Washington’s other offseason acquisitions, including Will Barton and Monte Morris, as things that excite him about this particular Washington group. He also cited the Celtics, Suns and Bucks as teams the Wizards can look to as a model for the type of jump they can make if the chemistry of this bunch connects and they can put together a winning formula.

“They were in the same boat and they didn’t tarnish their core guys in order to make their teams work. So we’re kind of trying to do the same thing,” he said. “It is inspiring to see these teams make these runs…it was motivational for sure.”

As for the notion that it was “common sense” that Brad would take the supermax contract Washington and only Washington could offer, Brad laughs and admits at face value it seems like a no-brainer, but challenges people to dig deeper the way he challenges himself.

“Being here for 10 years, understanding what it’s like to be a franchise guy, not everyone has that opportunity. Not everybody is given that. I take that on my shoulders and challenge myself that way. Why not here? Why not do it here? Why not build it here?”

Watch the entire interview, which also covers the topics of his friendship with Jayson Tatum and watching him in the NBA Finals, how Stephen Curry has “messed up” the game, and his the narrative around his friend and former teammate Russell Westbrook.