Washington Wizards 2015-2016 End of Season Awards
By Ben Mehic
Most Valuable Player
David Statman (@DJStatman77):
John Wall was far from perfect this year, but when it comes right down to it, this is a 41-win team that would have been lucky to win 21 without John Wall.
Wall has continued to prove that he’s this team’s franchise player, even as we debate whether he could be the top guy on an elite team. I have trouble getting myself invested in that debate when I’m watching Wall jump to lightspeed and effortlessly trash opposing defenses. Best point guard in franchise history, baby.
Winner: John Wall
Nithin Kuchibhotla (@NKuchibhhotla):
There’s really no other answer but John Wall here.
While he had his worst season from an efficiency perspective since Year 2 in the league, his impressive counting stats (on the verge of a 20-10-5-2 season) combined with the sheer lack of talent surrounding him gives him a large lead over anyone else who suited up in a Washington Wizards jersey.
Wall also played through a variety of injuries this season until being shutting down with five games to go with the Wizards effectively eliminated from the playoffs. Considering the number of players on the team whose recoveries seem to last three times longer than they should, that type of consistency should be appreciated for what it is.
Winner: John Wall
Osman Baig (@Obtoojiveforyou):
The only answer to this is John Wall.
When a player is fractions away from accomplishing the rare 20 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds season stat-line, he’s likely to end up the team’s MVP.
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That’s not to say John Wall was without fault.
A look past the surface shows similar inefficiencies in his game that have plagued the earlier portion of his career including shot selection, wasted possessions, and high turnover numbers.
Wall also didn’t get out to the start this team needed as he admittedly struggled with conditioning as the team adjusted to a pace and space style.
That all being said, without Wall gutting it out through various injuries, this team would not have been in position to compete for a playoff berth, let alone sniff a .500 record.
Winner: John Wall
John Cannady (@John_Cannady):
This is an obvious choice for this Washington Wizards team, but this team was so disappointing that Wall backed into this by default. Just looking at Wall’s stats on the season, it would appear that he just had his best season of his career.
Coming in at just under 20 points a game and just over 10 assists, Wall carried the team offensively most nights when his backcourt mate, Bradley Beal, missed some games due to injury (which, let’s face it, was most of the season). However, his defense regressed and it became clear that Wall was starting to become frustrated with the offensive schemes and personnel.
Wall himself does still need to improve in a few more huge aspects of his game: turnovers, questionable shot selection late in close games, and rebounding just to name a few issues.
He is the face of this franchise, an All Star, and in the discussion of being a top five point guard in the league, so let’s just hope this season was indeed what general manager Ernie Grunfeld called “just a bump in the road” for him.
Winner: John Wall
Next: Most Improved Player