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Washington Wizards’ John Wall selected to All-NBA Third Team

By Ryan Eugene

May 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) gestures on the court against the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 92-91, and tied the series at 3-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) gestures on the court against the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 92-91, and tied the series at 3-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards’ All-Star point guard John Wall was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, the NBA announced on Thursday.

After his best personal season in the NBA, John Wall is beginning to get some of the recognition he’s been seeking for a long time. Although just finishing his seventh season in the league, this is Wall’s first All-NBA selection.

Wall averaged career highs in points, field goal percentage, free throw attempts, assists, and steals. Wall was third in the league in double doubles, and led his team to its most wins in 38 seasons.

Long known for making his teammates better, he helped Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have career years. Just as he got Jared Dudley paid last offseason, he’ll get Porter paid offseason.

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Wall will be excited about the nod as it shows his progress, his hard work, dedication, and superstar level play. The award basically signifies him as a top 6 guard in the league, although you can certainly make a case he’s higher.

He’s wanted a shoe deal. He’ll get it. He’s wanted more commercials. He’ll get them. He’s wanted more accolades. He’s getting them.

Wall wants to win an MVP, and a championship trophy, and this is a great start.

The biggest reasoning for the excitement for Wizards fans is that it now gives Washington the ability to offer Wall the Designated Player Veteran Extension. The DPVE is available to players entering their eighth or ninth season, who make an All-NBA team, and are playing for the team that drafted them, or traded for them in their first four seasons.

Look at the amount of money the Wizards could extend Wall for this summer:

Wall has been one of the most underpaid All-Stars for a while, and now he can get paid like the superstar he has become.

The Wizards did a great job of building something this season, in Bradley Beal’s first max season, and the first season with Scott Brooks at the helm.

Wall and Beal still have tons of room for improvement, as they seek to advance to the conference finals and eventually cement themselves as the league’s top backcourt.

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Wall will turn 27 just before the start of next season, and now healthy, will have a full offseason to work on his game.

Last summers’ double knee surgeries required him to dropout of Team USA tryouts to heal and rehab, and limited him to begin the season. Most NBA players will tell you that their best improvements will come during the offseason, and Wall will finally have that chance.

This season Wall made great improvements early in the season as he got back in to shape, and was no longer on a minutes limit.

It’s crazy to think that he won an All-NBA award the same season he played only 7 minutes in the first half of a loss to the 76ers, so that he could finally play in his first back-to-back the next night.

Wall beat Golden State at home, Cleveland on the road, and hit the game winning three-pointer in the final home game of the season.

Next: Washington Wizards: I Thank You

It’s amazing to see what a fully healthy John Wall can do and did this season. This has to leave the fanbase feeling confident moving forward, even if there are other issues upstairs.

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