John Wall: 'I’m not giving up on my dreams of getting back into the league'

Speaking of the Wizards, Wall recently appeared on an episode of Podcast P, presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment. Engaging in discourse with his former teammate Paul George, the point guard was asked by George if he considers himself the greatest Washington player of all time. “I know we had Gil (Gilbert Arenas) here earlier in the season and he mentioned that he would give the nod to you as being the greatest Wizard of all time,” George said to Wall. “Do you feel that way yourself?” “It’s funny bro because I do,” Wall answered. “I know how much Gil means to the city and how he embraced the community the same way I did. I feel like I’m that guy, you know what I mean? Just for going number one (in the draft) and being there, embracing the city the way I did, the way they’re embracing me, I definitely call myself the greatest Wizard.” -via Clutch Points / June 26, 2024

The five-time All-Star said he wants to return to the NBA next season, saying he does not care if he has to take on a bench role to make it happen. “I know how much the game means to me. How much I wanna get back to the game,” Wall told Paul George on Podcast P with paul George Presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment. “I’ve been an All-Star, I’ve been a franchise player before. It’s been a tough journey trying to get back there. The most important thing for me is just trying to stay healthy. “I know a lot of these teams have a lot of young guys on the team. They don’t have a lot of vets. I think you need those vets in the locker room. That’s what teams are missing. I’m willing to accept any role it is to be on a team. If it’s playing, not playing, being in the Udonis Halsem role. Anything like that. I just wanna be in an NBA jersey again because I know how much the game means to me, how much I still have left. If it’s helping the team playing, if it’s helping the team trying to be a coach or be a mentor, I’m willing to accept that.” -via Bleacher Report / June 24, 2024

With the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks beginning this season’s NBA Finals on Thursday, Heat center Bam Adebayo appeared on the latest episode of the “Point Game with John Wall and C.J. Toledano” podcast and discussed what sets the Heat’s culture apart. “To me, it’s just a standard,” Adebayo said during the podcast released on Wednesday. “People try to make up these myths and [expletive] like that. The biggest thing I could say about it is it’s a standard. Every year, [Heat coach Erik Spoelstra] comes in and is like, ‘This is what we’re trying to get. We’re trying to get the trophy.’ Sixteen wins, whatever that may be, but it’s a standard because every day our coach walks in and challenges us. “Every day, he walks in and is like, ‘You’re going to be prepared for what’s about to happen in this season.’ That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to execute. But it’s the standard of always having to be that way, having to come in there and really lock in every day to the point where like you get in the playoffs, it’s second nature.” -via Miami Herald / June 6, 2024