It didn’t take long for the chip on John Wall’s shoulder to reveal itself this season.
Going into his fifth year in the NBA, the Washington Wizards’ All-Star point guard feels like he’s not getting his just due from fans and media.
John Wall is so obsessed with the public’s opinion of his game, that he keeps a regularly-updated list of slights and criticisms (real and perceived) on his smartphone.
Per the WaPo:
“I’m one of the most complete point guards in the league,” Wall, 24, said Tuesday after the Washington Wizards concluded their first training camp practice. “I rebound, I assist, play defense, steal, score. I don’t get why I’m overlooked. I’m still trying to figure it out.”
Wall’s backup knows the feeling. Andre Miller, 38, was once one of the NBA’s top point guards. He was among the annual leaders in assists much of his career and missed a combined six games his first 15 seasons. But he believes he never received the recognition he deserved. […] “I thought I should’ve made the all-star team maybe four or five times,” Miller said. “It’s never happened just because it’s a popularity contest. So I just find myself going out and working hard. And I think that’s what he’s done.”
He continued to work on his shooting over the summer and added a floater and post-up moves to his arsenal, but he insists defense is his focus. […] “I always could play defense,” Wall said. “I think anybody in this world could play defense, but do you commit yourself to it? That’s one thing. I want to be known as a two-way player. So I committed myself to that.”
