Washington Wizards: Why I Don’t Want John Wall To Be An MVP

John Wall is finally getting some credibility around the NBA and in the basketball world. After what seemed like years of being undersold by critics and analysts, Washington Wizards fans are finally happy to see their star player get what he deserves.

Earlier this week, Team USA men’s basketball announced its 34 man roster, and to little surprise, two Wizards were chosen for the squad, both Wall and Bradley Beal — who make up one of the best backcourts in the Eastern Conference.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: 30 Greatest Ball Handlers of All-Time

Before I go on to make my point, let me get something straight. John Wall is a talented player. Wall is also one of my favorite players in the NBA to watch. He’s quickly becoming a player who is immersing himself in the conversation of some of the best players of all time.

More from Washington Wizards

• Washington Wizards draft odds: What are their chances at the #1 pick?
• Wizards: 5 Teams that should trade for Bradley Beal this summer
• Ranking the top 18 shooters available on NBA trade market
• Trade Grades: Rui Hachimura traded to the Lakers
• NBA Trades: 5 under-the-radar trade targets

In no way am I wishing that the Wizards or Wall don’t see success next season — In fact, I want quite the opposite. Seeing them contending in the Eastern Conference Finals was one of my bold goals for them this year.

That being said, I don’t want Wall to win MVP this year. Well, that’s the core of what I want anyway. What I truly want is for Wall to not live up to the typical expectations that fans have of the MVP.

Let’s be honest. Most of the time, the MVP is a member of the team that is absolutely doing everything they do to carry that team. After all, that’s what exudes their extreme value to the team. They’re players that — if they went missing — the team would fall apart.

Sure, they have supporting role players, but largely, they’re the ones doing the heavy lifting.

Let’s take a look at last year’s MVP. Stephen Curry led his team to a championship. And while some said, “He had Klay Thompson beside him!” I wonder where Klay was down the stretch. Nowhere to be found in several playoff games, it seemed. Without Steph, I don’t think the Warriors win a title last year.

On the other hand, without Wall, the Wizards were very much alive against the Atlanta Hawks in their final playoff series last year, despite coming up short in the end.

We’ll get back to comparing Wall to Curry a bit later.

This needing Wall to be an absolute hero is not what I want for the Wizards. I want Beal to step up, and I want younger guys like Otto Porter to step up. Even more, I don’t want Wall to lose his selfless attitude in the process of becoming the standard, “MVP player,” that this league is all too accustomed to.

Wall is currently a player looking to share the ball. He’s not looking to gain for self, he’s looking to gain for the team. Even off the floor, it seems like Wall wants the best for his teammates, and truly sees them as family. I’m not saying Curry was a selfish player, I’m saying that is the style of play he had to develop in order to lead the Warriors to win.

Let’s take a look at a comparison of Wall and Curry last season.

Steph Curry

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/7/2015.

John Wall

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/7/2015.

Even the stats show Wall shared the ball more. If he had shared less, and put up the same 7.7 assists as Curry, he would have been just over a point shy of tying Curry for his points per game (assuming all assists were two-point plays). In my opinion, that extra ball movement, and versatility of the offense is not something worth giving up for an MVP trophy.

Adding onto the stigma that comes along with being MVP, or being a candidate for it, is the unrealistic expectations that come along with it. Rant Sports published an article in which they made it seem as if Wall would easily be involved in the MVP conversation next year. Their reasoning displeased me very much.

"Fortunately for Wall, the NBA MVP is not a postseason award, and his APG and PPG should both go up due to Pierce’s departure."

Paul Pierce leaving the Wizards is a huge blow to their roster, for sure. But to think Wall will be making a significant jump from his already high statistics because one player left, especially in the context of the Wizards’ busy offseason is baffling, to me.

Players were brought in to help make up for what was lost in Pierce, and the Wizards already had a decent forward (Porter) who will be coming up to replace Pierce, and I believe he has done his growth, and is ready to take on a larger role.

To be expecting Wall to make an MVP-like jump in both points and assists is simply unrealistic, another reason I don’t like the idea of him having to live up to the current expectations of an MVP candidate.

I know some Wizards fans may not like the tone of this post, so I will re-iterate. I want nothing but success for Wall and for the Wizards. I just truly feel like, at this point in the franchise, the best thing for success for the both of them, is for Wall to stay away from the current expectations that come along with being an MVP.

That being said, do your thing, Wall. And if being the league MVP comes along with it, so be it.

Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

More from Hoops Habit

• The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout