Healthy as ever, John Wall playing at All-Star level for surging Wizards
WASHINGTON – John Wall is not a complainer. He played through pain and injuries. But Wall also realized he needed surgeries on both knees after the 2015-16 NBA season.
“I wanted to get back to being healthy,” Wall told USA TODAY Sports. “In my first six years I was never healthy. I battled through so much just to prove I could play. For me to have a decent six years was great. But now I’m back to where I can be myself and be the player I always wanted to be.”
Wall is playing at an All-Star level for the 21-19 Wizards, who after a slow start have been one of the better teams in the East the past six weeks – 14-6 in their last 20 games, including 12 consecutive home victories.
This is the healthiest Wall, 26, has been in his NBA career. “By far,” he said. “Not even close.”
Wall averages a career-high in points (22.9 per game), shooting percentage (46.4%), foul shooting percentage (82.1%), steals (2.2 per game) and his assists (10.1 per game and third-best in the NBA) are just below his career-high.
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“I’ve only been around him for a few months now but it seems to me the game is slowing down for him and for a lot of players, there’s a moment that happens,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “That’s happening in the last month – that he’s not rushing to make a great play. He’s letting his play become great with his patience.
“He’s a special player. I told him, ‘Let the game come to you, and you’re going to make a lot of special plays throughout the game.’ "
Whether it’s a pirouetting bounce pass by three defenders to Otto Porter for an easy layup, a mesmerizing pocket pass to Marcin Gortat for another easy basket or an assist to Bradley Beal for a three-pointer, Wall makes the simple pass look spectacular and the spectacular pass look simple.
It’s what happens when a point guard has full command of the offense – what play to run, where players will be and where the weakness in the defense is.
His assists create 23.8 points per game, second behind only Houston’s James Harden, according to nba.com/stats. The Wizards also score 109.1 points per 100 possessions with Wall on the court, and in the past 20 games, the Wizards are at 112.5 points per 100 possessions with Wall on the court.
“He has to put the work in,” Brooks said. “There’s no magic formula or pill you can take to become better year to year. You have to put the work in. Give him credit. He wasn't able to do a lot of court work over the summer, but he’s developed a pattern. He’s been consistent with his pre- and post-work habits.”
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Putting the work in before and after practices was a sensitive topic for Wall as he played through pain and injuries prior to surgeries. He heard people question his commitment to basketball. Why wasn’t Wall the first one on the court? Why wasn’t he the last one to leave the court following practice?
“I wanted to put the work in but I couldn’t because I needed to spend an hour to stretch just to get prepared to practice. That was frustrating,” Wall said. “People would tell me I don’t take the NBA seriously. I take this as seriously as possible.
“Now, I can do a regular stretch for 10 minutes and get a full workout in without having any problem afterward. That’s the key to why I am playing at a higher level.”
Two weeks ago on Instagram, Wall posted a photo of himself with the words, “I want it all. Anything less than the best I will not allow myself to be satisfied.”
What does that entail?
“Everything that comes with it – MVP, All-NBA, All-Star MVP, winning an NBA championship,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of great players in this league but me being healthy and me being back to myself, I give myself a shot to be one of the best players in the league.
“But it’s all about winning. You don’t get those accolades without winning. If you’re not winning, you don’t get noticed.”
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt