After Deron Williams, now LeBron James roots for underachieving John Wall – NBA Update
Back in 2010, Washington Wizards envisaged their number one draft pick John Wall as somebody, who would help them build a basketball dynasty.
The least they thought was a quick trip to the playoffs. But, two years down the line, the only thing they have achieved is bitter disappointment. After finishing last season with one of the worst records in the league, the Wizards
have once again ended out as the second worst team in the league, only behind the woeful Charlotte Bobcats and looking at the way, Wall has been performing; it is fast becoming clear that the Wizards will have to start looking for another messiah.
However, that is not what many elite players in the league think. Two weeks ago, All-Star point guard Deron Williams backed Wall, blaming the pieces around him for the slow success and now LeBron James, the man who knows all about
the pressures of being the number one draft pick, has put his weight behind the under fire second year guard.
Urging him to stay positive, the Miami Heat superstar advised Wall to stay focused on his goals and the results will start coming;
“It’s about him staying positive. With him being a leader and the face of that franchise, people are going to look to him both on and off the court,” James said. “He has to stay positive in order for the ship to stay right. He’s
been doing that this year, even though the wins and losses haven’t been there.”
LeBron also failed in taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs in his first couple of season, but unlike Wall, his impact was epic. The Cavs improved by 18 wins in his first season and then ended the next with a 42-40 record.
However James believes that Wall has got the good to become an elite player and his intensity has never went down, even in the roughest of patches for the Wizards;
“Regardless of their record, he’s going out there playing or trying to play at a high level every single night. It’s very tough in this league, when you come from winning ways in high school or college. He hasn’t been as successful
as he would like to in the NBA, but he’s always been able to stay positive and you like that about him.”
Wall has shown sparks of brilliance late in the season and has been the main reason behind Washington’s six-game season ending winning streak, their biggest since 2007. Whether, Wall can be consistent and can live up to his promise
in his third season however remains to be seen.
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