John Wall, face of the franchise, faces the future in a one-on-one interview with Chris Miller of NBCSports Washington. Wall spoke about how the Washington Wizards’ season ended and his direction for the team.
John Wall, face of the franchise, faces the future in a one-on-one interview with Chris Miller of NBCSports Washington. Wall spoke about how the Washington Wizards‘ season ended and the direction he wants the team to go in.
This article provides an excerpt from that interview, which can be found on the Wizards Tipoff Podcast:
Chris Miller: When the final horn for Game 6 ended and you knew that the season was over, what was your first reaction?
John Wall: Devastated. Missing 40-something games, and doing all the stuff I had to do to rehab to return. These guys holding it down to even give us an opportunity to be in playoff position, it was devastating.
I know we’re a better team, we just didn’t play better. We could say we’re the better team, but they won the series and moved on.
Miller: Bradley Beal said, that he felt different from the end of last year compared to this year. He felt like we really had a chance in Game 7 in Boston. But something felt amiss all year round. The team didn’t click. Did you get that feeling?
Wall: Yes. Last year when you watched the Wizards it was all fun. Everyone was clicking, we were all on the same page. We felt like we shouldn’t have been in a Game 7 in Boston, we let the first two games slip there.
This year was a roller coaster year. It was never steady, even before my injury. It was up down, up down, up down. You wonder why, but it goes back to what I said. When you have those team meetings early in the season and you’re still dealing with the same problems after, that’s when you know it’s not going to be a great year.
In the past when we had a team meeting, people got things of their chest. Then we would play basketball. But we could never get past that, we’re back to square one.
Miller: After your surgery, there was a jolt when you returned. However, were those issues still present in the locker room?
Wall: I can’t really say. The tree started to fall down. All the apples started to come off. Oh, it’s when is he coming back. I’m not rushing it. I’m taking my time. Because if we don’t go on those winning sprees we’re not in the playoffs. We’re fighting for a playoff spot.
Like I said, give those guys credit for playing well as they did. If not, I wouldn’t be coming back this year. You wouldn’t see John Wall till next year.
In addition, it’s like we need these game and this game to win. I only played like 3-4 games coming back. We showed glimpses how we can play, and showed glimpses how we didn’t play.
Miller: Does this team need to identify who really wants to be here next year. Is that even possible considering the financial commitments that have been made to you, Brad and Otto Porter.
Wall: It’s going to be tough because you have a lot of money tied up. But yes, you have to really sit down and talk. Not even just talk, because we talk every year during the exit meetings. It’s time to put your foot down and finally make some things happen.
Guys don’t get any younger. Careers—you get older. Teams are improving. We have to be one of those teams that improve. If we keep our core that would be really cool, but we never really improve. We’re back to here again.
It’s time to get over that hump and make some changes.
Miller: What has to change for you individually coming into your ninth season?
Wall: I’m not that young anymore. Understand my body now that I’m older, and getting in better shape like I did when I was out rehabbing. My diet. Be a better leader.
My opinion: I have no idea what happened in that November team meeting which Wall mentioned. But from the outside, they didn’t look like a team. It just looked like a group of individuals.
I had no opinion on their attire for that “funeral game” for Boston. But they banded together. It was the Wizards against the world.
This year it looked like they were against each other. Not even referring to what happened on twitter.
This season they looked like two teams within a team.
Whether or not there’s significant change to the roster this offseason, that’s in the hands of the front office.
However, it’s imperative that the Wizards go back to being one team again, with the same mindset and shared goals.
Bottom line, Wall and Beal have to lead one team. And if they do become better leaders, they will lead a better team.