On almost every team he has ever played for, John Wall has been the best player. He was a top high school recruit, a star at Kentucky, and the Washington Wizards selected him with the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. When he signed with the Houston Rockets, he was overshadowed by James Harden, but after Harden left, Wall gained back control of the ball for the short time he remained in Texas. However, his position is likely to change significantly now that he has gotten a buyout from Houston and will join the Los Angeles Clippers.
Even though Wall, who signed a two-year, $13.2 million contract in free agency, is the team’s starting point guard, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are the offense’s main players, and that suits Wall just fine. According to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, Wall stated, “I don’t have to do it every night, I don’t have to be Batman every night for us to win.” “My ultimate objective is to avoid having to play the character of Batman every night in order to succeed at this stage of my career. I believe that anyone on our squad has the potential to be Batman.”
Wall doesn’t even care if he starts because he is so thrilled to be a Clipper. He said, “For me, I’m just thrilled to play basketball again.”I am an adversary. Many people have asked me, “Are you mad if you start or don’t start?” I know this. I don’t care. As a competitor, all I want is the chance to compete for a position, and if I win, I’ll take it. If I don’t, Reggie Jackson is a talented player who has done a lot for this team and for these players, especially while Kawhi and PG were injured. He was a wonderful piece even when they were [healthy]. Great job to whoever gets the job.”
The Clippers have had plenty of wings for years, but they haven’t had a point guard who can create traditional plays. Wall gives the team precisely what they need. He can alleviate the burden of ball handling on Leonard and George while also making things simpler for all of the Clippers’ shooters.
The Clippers have a proven track record of locating veterans near the end of their careers and restoring their worth. Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum are both terrific examples of that, and now John Wall, a former All-Star, could be their biggest margin of victory yet.
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