Washington Wizards fans had themselves quite a Friday night. After weeks of suspense, John Wall announced last night that he’s agreed to the contract extension of 4 years, $170 million dollars. Why it’s important, what it means for the franchise, and how Wall mirrors one of hip-hop’s biggest icons.
July 21, 2017 will go down as one of the biggest dates in Wizards franchise history.
Kendrick Lamar was performing in the Verizon Center, the place the Wizards call home, as a stop on his “DAMN.” tour. I attended the concert myself, and the atmosphere was that of a Wizards playoff game and then some. As Lamar performed one of his hit songs, “Loyalty,” a nearby friend broke the news to me that John Wall signed the contract extension. What peculiar timing.
“Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty”. The words echoed by Kendrick and the crowd were the perfect representation of how Wizards fans felt. On the same day it was found Kyrie Irving wanted out of Cleveland, John Wall made it known he isn’t going anywhere. D.C.’s beloved point guard signed the extension worth 4 years, $170 million dollars. He’s worth every penny.
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The extension ensures Wall be a Washington Wizard until at least 2022, and hopefully beyond. In an NBA where stars are relocating teams left and right, it was a breath of fresh air to see Wall commit to the franchise long-term. Wall seems to be following the path of Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki. He appears to want to play in D.C his whole career, and while things can untimely change, the desire can’t be understated.
“I love being in D.C. I love the organization, love my teammates, love the amazing fans … happy I’m coming back for another 4 years to be a Washington Wizard. Y’all know what I’m going for, definitely gonna bring home that championship” said Wall, who broke the news via an Uninterrupted social media video.
Loyalty is a lost concept in today’s NBA. The idea of winning with the team that drafted you has slowly diminished. But not for John Wall. Even through dismal seasons of losing, dysfunction, and locker room turmoil, Wall has embraced the culture.
Wizards fans rejoice. Losing Wall surely would have been devastating, canceling out any chances of winning for the foreseeable future. Now the Wizards can continue to build a championship contender around their franchise player.
Make no mistake, the front office needs to get smarter. Over the years, they’ve given John Wall every reason not to sign this extension. Draft busts, failed trades, poor free agent signings, etc. And these things don’t go unnoticed. But Wall saw D.C. as the best place for him to be long-term, and there’s a reason for that.
It’s not just the city and the fans, which Wall obviously loves. It’s about his ultimate goal; winning a championship. Wall feels like the Wizards have a legit shot to contend both now and down the road, and can reach new heights. Is he crazy?
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No, he’s not. Some teams nowadays don’t even have a clear-cut franchise player to build around, which is a necessity. This player has to make others better, and others must feed off of him as a result. They shouldn’t shy away from the big moments, and they should be able to take over games when need be.
Wall checks off all the boxes. Build him a statue outside the Verizon Center, he deserves it. Heck, even appoint him to mayor of the city. Wall has come a long way since he entered the league back in 2010. He’s matured as both a person and player, taking his game to new heights. Wizards fans have been here to see it all, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
A championship is within reach, even if the Warriors look unbeatable. Crazy things happen, and the Wizards are long overdue for some good fortune.
Kendrick Lamar and John Wall possess many of the same characteristics. In the rap world, Lamar is one of the best. He’s passionate, outspoken, and hard-working. Same goes for John Wall when it comes to the hardwood. Both are humble. They also both place great value on one great virtue, a quality that’s equally important in both music and basketball.
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Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty.
Thank you, John Wall.