Johnathan Hildred Wall or John Wall, as he is widely known in the NBA, arrived in Las Vegas to participate in the USA Basketball training camp with a chip on his shoulder. Wall is a young and talented guard who has had his fair share of critics in his four-year career with the Washington Wizards as Sekou Smith in his Hang Time Blog points out.
He certainly had a lot to prove in Vegas, which is that belonged to elite crop of players in the NBA. Unfortunately for him, the US roster was loaded with premiere guards and the US Basketball decision makers had to cut Wall last week to finalize the official team who will be heading into Spain for the FIBA World Cup. With a newly resurrected Derrick Rose impressing everyone in training camp and Stephen Curry shooting lights out, there where only 1-2 spots available for the guard position. Wall reportedly had to fight it out with the likes of Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving, who shined at Duke under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Wall, nonetheless, saw it as a source of motivation heading into the 2014-2015 season. In an interview with CNSWashington on Saturday at his charitable foundation's "Back2School" event for children in Washington, the quick and explosive guard had this to say, "Yeah, definitely, always...You want to make every team you try out for. When you don't, it's more motivation for me. Not even (against) just those (Team USA point guards), but the NBA, period. I guess I'm overlooked again. I guess have to prove myself one more time."
It is to note that the basketball player had treatment on his knee last month and was notified by USA Basketball management just 4 days before the start of training camp. As such, both these circumstances may have left him with less time to prepare. He does not believe though that his injury or the fact that he was invited late into the selection process had any effect on his game. But he believes that he did not receive a fair shot at making the World Cup roster, according to Sporting News.
The player said, "Nah, I don't think so, but it's a part of the game. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to be there and represent my country. I wish them the best of luck and hope they can win gold."
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