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John Wall Is Prepared To Lead Wizards To The Promised Land

By Colby Giacubeno

Sep 28, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) speaks with the media during Wizards media day at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) speaks with the media during Wizards media day at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Wizards have asserted themselves as realistic contenders in the Eastern Conference. For the past two seasons, they have seen their season come to an end in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last season in particular, there was a sense throughout the D.C. area that this may be there year to shock the league once the playoffs came.

They took care of business in the opening round, completing the first sweep in franchise history against the Toronto Raptors. Heading into the semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, the Wizards matched up extremely well and had an opportunity to eliminate the top team in the East.

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Their chances dropped significantly when their franchise point guard John Wall fractured his wrist during Game 1. Despite having five non-displaced fractures in his wrist and hand, the two-time NBA All-Star returned for Game 5, but the Wizards still fell short and lost the series in six games.

Last season is in the past and looking forward to this season, all eyes remain on Wall. Entering his sixth year in the league, it is Wall’s turn to become the leader of this Wizards squad and lead them to the promised land.

“I know I am the leader of these guys, so I came in with a different mindset,” Wall said to the media on Monday.

Wall has inserted himself into the conversation of being one of the elite point guards alongside Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul. Last season he averaged a career high 10 assists per game, which ranked second to Paul’s 10.2.

To go along with his ability to make his teammates better, Wall can also scored when called upon, as he has averaged 17.6 points per game throughout his career. There was one thing Wall was missing coming into the league, and that was leadership. Since playing with Paul Pierce last season, Wall witnessed the qualities it took to be the respected leader of his team.

The Wizards managed to keep their core players together with Wall, Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat, but in terms of who will be the outright leader to help boost them to the Eastern Conference Finals, that will rest on Wall’s shoulders.

Otto Porter addressed the media after practice yesterday concerning Wall: “He’s growing into it. Each year he’s adding a bit more to his leadership. This year he is our leader.”

It is evident that this season Wall is expected to take on the role of being “the guy” and putting up numbers that will enter his name into the MVP conversation. The Wizards are knocking on the door to becoming consistent title contenders in the Eastern Conference, and if Wall takes the necessary steps to be one of the premier players in the NBA as a whole, there is no doubt that even an NBA title will be a realistic goal.

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