Is John Wall the Clippers’ savior?
Credit: Fadeaway World
After a two-year injury-related hiatus, John Wall will finally be back in action this upcoming season with a new roster – and a chance at the NBA championship. The veteran point guard will be joining the Klaw and PG13 in the City of Angels in a packed Western Conference that will only get better. But Wall doesn’t care. All he wants to do is win games – even if he isn’t the same beast as he used to be. Because he finally has help.
"I don't have to do it every night. I don't have to be Batman every night for us to win," Wall said on Saturday at the Las Vegas Summer League. "That's the ultimate goal for me is [at] this part of my career, I don't want to have to be the Batman every night to try to win. On our team that we have, I think anyone can be Batman."
He is right. Wall doesn’t – and I don’t think can – always be his dominant self. Yet, he does need to be the point guard the Clippers desperately need. The Clippers, a very iso-heavy team, need a player to set up their offense whenever they need a bucket. Wall, for his career, averages a whopping 9.1 assists per game and has multiple 10-plus assist seasons. However, some critics argue that Wall, now 34 years old, won’t produce a starter-like performance every night, let alone an All-Star-caliber one. And they have a point.
According to ESPN, Wall has only played 40 games with the Houston Rockets. Wall missed the 2019-20 season due to an Achilles' tendon injury and only played in a total of 73 games combined over the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons due to injuries. Yet, unlike some cocksure NBA players, Wall is aware of his situation. Wall told reporters he understands his role might be less with the Clippers as it depends upon his performance. But playing is all that matters to him – and he will play his heart out.
"For me, I'm just happy to play basketball again," Wall said. "I'm a competitor. I know a lot of people ask me, 'Are you mad if you start or not start?' I don't care. I'm a competitor, and I just want an opportunity to go out there and compete for a spot, and if I get it, I get it. And if I don't, we know how talented Reggie Jackson is and what he's done for this team and helping these guys out, especially when Kawhi and PG were out. Even when they were [healthy], he's a great piece. Whoever gets the spot is great."
So regardless of whether the Clippers get Wall as their savior or a benchwarmer, he will be a significant asset that will only make Paul George and Kawhi Leonard better – as long as Wall can stay healthy.
