Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Although he missed most of the 2012-2013 season with a knee injury, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall put together statistically the best season of his three year career. If Wall can continue to progress, the Wizards could be a team that is quickly on the rise in the Eastern Conference.
Wall’s season didn’t begin until January 12, and he spent the rest of the first half of the season pacing himself until he got back into game shape. But Wall turned it on after the All-Star break, going on a scoring run better than any time in his career. After the break, Wall averaged 20.7 points, 7.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds while shooting .447 from the field including a 47-point explosion in March, numbers that would put him in the conversation among the best young point guards in the league. For the entire season, while averaged a career-high 18.5 points and 7.6 assists in just 32.7 minutes a game.
Wall appeared to take on more of a leadership role, which is encouraging to see for the Wizards. The franchise has taken strides to improve their team over the past couple seasons and give Wall more help and an opportunity to succeed, and it seems as if Wall is up to the challenge. With Wall in the lineup, the Wizards were a much improved 24-25, and would have finished with a better record if their whole team was healthy in the final weeks of the season.
There was talk that Wall believed he was a max deal player, and if he continues to play at this level then he just may be worth the money. The Wizards haven’t had much to be excited about in years, but Wall’s development at this stage in his career should give fans some hope for a bright future.
