Washington Wizards guard John Wall has quite a decision to make. A few weeks ago, the team offered Wall a contract extension for 4 years, $168 million dollars. While its largely expected that he will remain in D.C. long-term, Wall has remained largely quiet on extension talks. In a sideline interview during the Wizards summer league game in Las Vegas, Wall said he’s “chilling” and is taking his time to make a decision. Here’s why he should put the pen to paper.
Dear John Wall,
Wizards fans often don’t deserve you. You put on highlight show after highlight show, pouring your heart and soul into every single basketball game. Your drive to be successful is admirable and unique. Very few players have it. Your ultimate goal is to bring a championship to D.C.
D.C., the city that you’ve embraced and has embraced you back. We’ve watched you grow as a player and man since you entered the league back in 2010. It seems like just yesterday you were dancing out of the tunnel in your debut, and faced unwarranted criticism from the Colin Cowherd’s of the world for merely having fun. In your first few seasons, the team was a mess. You were thrust into the role of franchise savior from day one, with a collection of teammates who were negatives on and off the court.
Since then, you’ve taken your game to new heights. Heights that many didn’t see coming when you were drafted. You’re a bonafide All-Star. You’ve made an all-defensive team, and now an all-NBA team. You’re one of the best players in the league, producing on both ends of the court. You’re arguably the best passer in the NBA.
Despite all your accomplishments and accolades, they’ve often been depreciated.
More from Wiz of Awes
- It would be a mistake for the Wizards to trade for this elite sharpshooter
- When is the 2024 NBA trade deadline? Everything you need to know
- 5 early predictions for the 2023-24 Washington Wizards
- 4 most interesting Washington Wizards storylines for the 2023-24 season
- Washington Wizards: 3 teams that would be perfect fit for Danilo Gallinari
The organization has yet to find you a stable backup point guard, capable of running the offense effectively when you’re on the bench. From Eric Maynor to Brandon Jennings, it seems like the team suffers whenever you ride the pine. This problem was exemplified in this years playoffs. The Wizards bench was one of the least productive in the league all season. In the playoffs, specifically against the Celtics, a lack of depth was
But still, things are looking up, not down.
You’ve finally got your sidekick in Bradley Beal, an All-Star caliber player whose only going to get better. There’s Otto Porter, whose only 24 years old and is good at almost everything. These are two of the best shooters in the league. The first season with Scott Brooks was a huge success. Under his leadership, you had a career season individually and so did the franchise. Brooks isn’t going anywhere, and solid coaching is hard to come by in the NBA.
Even if the fan attendance doesn’t show it, you’ve got a fan base that loves you.
You’re arguably D.C’s most premier athlete. You’re a superstar both on and off the court, doing lots of work in the community and giving back to the less fortunate. Throughout the season and into the playoffs, fans rallied around you and the Wizards. We knew this team could be something special. While we were devastated with the playoff result, the championship window is only opening, not closing.
D.C sports have long craved success, and it’s been hard to come by. After you hit the game winning shot against the Celtics in game 6, you jumped on the scorers table and proclaimed, “This is my city!”. You were right, John, this is your city. The city needs you, the fans need you, and the Wizards need you.
Next: Grunfeld’s Past Mistakes Haunting Wizards
Sign the extension and let’s bring home a championship.