Another early postseason exit for the Wizards means another offseason full of questions for the organization and All-Star John Wall. After losing to the Raptors in six games, Wall and other members of the Wizards met with the media for an end-of-season press conference. Wall vocalized his frustrations with the team and what he thinks can be done to improve the situation.
As Candance Bucker of The Washington Post writes, Wall called out his teammates and challenged the front office to put together a team that is on the same page. The 27-year-old appeared in just 41 games this season after knee surgery sidelined him for several months. In that time, he and teammate Marcin Gortat exchanged words in the press, which both men downplayed. Washington backed its way into the postseason, ending up with the eighth seed.
The entire story is worth reading, but here are some highlights from Wall’s media session:
On his teammates being on the same page:
“I don’t put the pressure on everybody else. I put the pressure on myself because I am that franchise guy. I am the guy that has to be the leader of the team, that has to get everybody better, make everybody better on my team. At the same time, if I’m doing my part, the other 14 guys on my team have to do their part at getting better every year. Just being true to the team. Our problem at a lot times is guys don’t understand their role and respect their role.”
What the Wizards need to improve their roster:
“It’s pretty obvious. I don’t need to point it out. I think the way the league is going, you need athletic bigs, you need scoring off the bench, you need all of those types of things. We don’t really have an athletic big.”
On the front office and what it needs to do this summer:
“I don’t know. It’s up to them to make the decision. Like I said, whoever comes back, whoever stays, what it is, we deal with it because those are our teammates. Those guys do the best they can. They have the ability to help us out as much as possible. We know what it is, what the situations are. That’s up to the front office to decide. If they want to make any changes or keep guys. At the same time, you kind of know what guys want to be here from what people have said in the past or what they haven’t said.”
On his teammates understanding their role:
“Some people don’t understand their roles, so if you don’t understand your role and you think you deserve a bigger role, that’s not about to happen.”
John Wall is a one of a kind talent, will always have my respect and the man has a good heart after breaking down in tears after that beautiful 6 year old girl cancer past away. May she Rest In Peace and I am rooting for you John to get a ring.
By using your logic that John is a sensitive + caring person somehow makes him a super star then we should present an offer sheet 2 Pope Francis. I believe John is a good guy but that doesn’t have anything to do with basketball. I hope whatever decisions are made in off season will B good 4 all involved including the Fans.
Get a ring? Lol
This Wizards team has to be the most dysfunctional team I have seen in years. Clearly no one thinks the other is doing their job on the court, and guys aren’t accepting of their roles. This thing needs to be blown up.
Agreed.
John wall and players like him are clowns. “I’m the leader, I’m the guy, this franchise revolved around me”… dream on little boy. It’s a team sport and the guys winning play team basketball. You never hear anyone from the warriors talking this way. You never heard Jordan talking this way. You never heard magic or bird talk this way. Self inflated egotistical sociopaths.
Reminds me of another Super Star viewed as a leader that acknowledged he was to blame 4 losses but it was the other players who weren’t doing their jobs that led 2 loses. He is no longer a starting QB.
John Is Much Much better person 4 Sure, BUT blaming others is not the way 2 lead.
I am a wizards fan and this really needs to get worked out. It seems every season there are serious chemistry issues. I love Wall and he is the best player on the team, but the issues seem to always revolve around him. Whether it’s him and Beal hating each other on the court or Gortat getting called out for getting spoon fed baskets, there is always something wrong.
As talented as Wall is, he needs to go. As mentioned by others, controversy seems to follow him. If he’s the common denominator of those issues, it tells you everything you need to know.
Agree
John Wall is franchise primus. Others need to accept their lesser roles as lesser athletes. This is more important than team success, indeed more crucial the nature of the game itself. John Wall needs a posse that understands this and rewards him handsomely.
Disagree Strongly
So do I, I should have made my sarcasm more clear.
Wall is all off. Good player but a bit of a burden for the team.
Time to swap Wall for Kwahi. Spurs can pair him with Aldridge.