John Wall, all of 25 years old, knows his NBA clock is ticking.
The Washington Wizards point guard offered some very candid quotes for a piece penned by Michael Lee over at The Vertical. The article gives great insight into Wall the person and player and highlights his aspirations, both on and off the court.
One such aspiration includes winning an NBA title before he retires, preferably prior to the end of his prime, and he knows he can’t do that this season if the Wizards continue down their current path.
Here’s what he told Lee:
“I know what our goal is, to try to go after Kevin, which is not a bad situation. But my ultimate goal is this year. I ain’t trying to waste a season,” Wall recently told The Vertical. “I’m in my sixth year. Time don’t wait for nobody and I’ve dealt with it my first three years of not being in the playoffs. I know how it feels to have a longer summer, a longer vacation. I don’t want that. I want to be seen on TV. I know the city wants to see that. And as a point guard, you get known as being a winner in this league, not being a loser. And that’s something I never want to do. Since I’ve been in the playoffs, I want to finish my career making the playoffs every single year if I have the opportunity.”
The urgency is understandable. John Wall is young, but players have a limited opportunity to win during their primes. Players around Wall’s age are in especially tricky situations, because their best days are intersecting with the seemingly irreversible reign of the Golden State Warriors.
Opportunities to contend, to legitimately challenge the league’s best, for a title are even more limited so long as the Warriors are Warriors-ing. The Wizards don’t project as a title-toter even if they snag a playoff berth, but almost anything can happen in the Eastern Conference provided you reach the postseason.
Making to the conference finals is not out of the question, and depending on where the Cavaliers are at by the time you face them, coming out of the East remains a distinct, if increasingly faint, possibility.
And it’s one John Wall understandably doesn’t want to miss.
