After a stellar 2016-17 campaign that saw him post career-highs in points, assists, and steals while leading his team to the brink of the Eastern Conference Finals, point guard John Wall and the Wizards have faced a different battle this season. The five-time All Star’s numbers have regressed slightly in every major statistical category, but it’s instead been a slew of injuries and the Wizards’ unpredictable play that has cast a cloud over the future of this franchise.
With Wall healthy and in the lineup, the Wizards still weren’t the Eastern Conference contender many thought they would be this season. For how much talent the team rosters, frequently dropping what should’ve been give-me games to sub-.500 teams is unacceptable, something they’ve done with regularity.
However, it hasn’t been the play of the team with John Wall in the lineup that’s risen questions about what the future really holds. Instead, it’s been their improved statistical play during this most recent stretch as he works his way back from mid-season knee surgery.
With Wall sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks, Washington has come out victorious in six of their last eight outings including a season-best 5-game winning streak. Of course, at the start of this recent stretch of success, there were the minor rumblings of locker room disconnect in the nation’s capital.
Some saw cryptic statements from both Bradley Beal and center Marcin Gortat as shots at Wall and perhaps implying that the team performs better without their point guard. Beal and Gortat have since adamantly denied those claims with the former promising no sort of tension in the Wizards locker room. Wall himself also went on ESPN this last week and confirmed he has no issue with any of his teammates. Rumors about a rift between Wall and Beal seem to be a narrative that will simply remain attached, though the duo both have said they love playing with each other on numerous occasions in the past.
With the Wiz playing inspired ball with Wall out of the mix and Bradley Beal transforming into a bonafide All-Star before our very eyes this season, many have come to question whether the two could coexist or whether they should have to in the first place, something as preposterous as it is far-fetched.
Both Beal and Wall are locked down long-term along with versatile forward Otto Porter, capping their spending in free agency and their capability to go after another superstar. Wall put pen to paper this most recent offseason on a $207M extension that carries through 2023, verifying his status as the franchise centerpiece.
Though Washington has averaged a better field goal percentage, more assists, and more points per game with Wall out of the lineup, the relentless 27-year-old remains the team’s catalyst on both ends. Yes, Bradley Beal may be having the better season and is a more adept natural scorer. But the intangibles, leadership, and all-around stellar complete play Wall bring to the table is simply unparalleled.
Raw talent wise, no one has the rare size, speed, and skill combination possessed by John Wall. He has the ability and freakish athleticism to get to and finish at the rim as he pleases and has finished top five in the league in assists and fast break points each of the previous 4 seasons as one of the sparse perennial 20 and 10 guys the NBA has to offer.
The Wizards are locked down with their core of Wall, Beal, and Porter thanks to the trio all playing under max deals and also a pair of bad contracts, placing a firm ceiling on the franchise’s future. Though the outside world may think differently, the Wizards are still very much John Wall’s team and will continue to only go as far as their star point guard takes them.
