NBA: Rookie John Wall soon to be a star
The National Basketball League is rarely talked about after the season is over, with the Miami Heat cleaning up the free-agency this year by grasping the most wanted players in the NBA, leaving very few fresh topics to cover. However the talk about the drafting season does not subside and seems to linger till the next season begins.
Washington Wizards were the winners of 2010 drafting season by picking the No.1 pick John Wall. The 19 year old shook the scouts after they watched him play at the Vegas Summer League, which was just the beginning of his hype.
The 6 feet 4 inch player averaged 23.5 points per game with 7.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the Wizards summer league. Critics say that Wall could just very well prove to be an average player, judging him on his performance at camps is juvenile due to the fact that most players who play at the summer league do not even make it to the NBA rosters and defence is virtually unheard of.
Nevertheless basketball enthusiasts say Wall has made a strong presence on and off court, his performance throughout the summer league was excellent and he earned the title of the Most Outstanding Player at the end of Las Vegas Summer league. John’s ability to keep his team intact was highly appreciated, even after they almost lost to the New York Knicks with a bad beat of 20-points.
Experts say besides John Walls obvious aptitude to help his team improve and his sheer ability to score, he has a great attitude towards the game and wants to improve his game further. He has improved his free throw shoots and made 41 shots out of 47 in the four appearances he made in the summer league.
John’s biggest weakness is turnovers and has been criticized for it since his time with the University of Kentucky. However John has shown great commitment and has dropped his turnover average from 10 to 2.6. Experts say that is an impressive number for an amateur player of his age, it does not matter what level of competition it is. He proved the fact he is not only a growing star but puts his ego aside, recognizing his faults and improving them.
The Wizards new star’s rival this summer was DeMarcus Cousins. It was being said that Cousins growing popularity could have over shadowed Walls newly created aura in the NBA but Cousins ruined his resume in the summer league because of his visible immaturity level. John proved to be invincible adjusting well into his surroundings and was able to play with confidence which Cousins was unable to do, sullying his image in the league.
Wall’s work ethic is marvellous and will certainly help revolutionize the Wizards by the upcoming regular season. Washington Wizards is a low ranked team in the NBA, but this year the franchises fans have something to talk about and be positive about. Basketball pundits conclude that it will not be long before the Wizards rise and perform next year, reaching the playoffs and quite possibly beyond that as well.
Wizards and its fans have been really content by general manager Ernie Grunfeld's decision of picking John as the No.1 pick instead of DeMarcus Cousins or Evan Turner who was the 2nd pick over and was acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers.
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