John Wall has been a forgotten man in the NBA. People don’t seem to remember how good of a player John was when he was fully healthy.
What if I told you when John Wall returns, he is going to be valuable and a great player for the Washington Wizards next season.
John Wall was known for his athleticism and his amazing playmaking abilities. He has always been a highlight machine but now turning 30 in September and after rupturing his Achilles, people wonder how good and valuable will Wall be when he returns on the court.
In the 2016-17 season Wall averaged 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2.0 steals a game. That was Wall’s best season in his career which earned him a deserving spot on the third All-NBA team.
The one reason why I believe John Wall will be valuable and a great player when he returns is because of his defensive presence.
For the majority of the season this year the Wizards have been dead last in nearly every defensive statistic category without Wall. The last time Wall was healthy was during the 2017-18 season when Washington finished 15th in the league with a defensive rating of 107.7.
Wall has proven that he has been a great defender throughout his career by posting a defensive rating of 108 or lower in seven of his nine seasons and when he returns next year, he will continue to be a great defender.
Another reason is Wall’s elite playmaking.
Trying to keep up with Wall’s movements requires a defender’s complete engagement and sometimes Walls passes are just impossible for a defense to anticipate in real-time. Wall has shown everyone that he is one of the best floor generals in the NBA and that’s not going to change any time soon.
Wall already has his backcourt mate Bradley Beal and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league in Davis Bertans if he resigns with the Wizards. Wall will leave defenses wondering what his next move will be. Will he drive to the basket or will he kick it out to his teammates?
People are going to be surprised when Wall returns to the basketball court next season. He is going to prove to people why he still is a great basketball player in this league.
Photo:
