Two weeks ago, the Washington Wizards and John Wall agreed to terms to keep the point guard in D.C. for at least the next five seasons with a "supermax" extension valued at four-years, approximately $170 million. Today, we found out just how easy of a lock the agreement was despite some worried that Wall would not want to stay with a team that is playing second fiddle to LeBron James' team in the Eastern Conference.
“This is the only team I wanted to be with,” Wall said in an introductory statement. “Everyone was panicking and wondering why I didn’t sign my extension. Y’all didn’t have to worry. This is the city I love. I just sit back and let my agent, my management team figure out all the details we wanted in the country [trade kicker, player option]. This is the team I want to be with for the rest of my career so hopefully we can get that done. I am not going to stop until I get a jersey retired here and a banner here for a championship.”
Many may think that Washington is on a path to nowhere without adding another third star, since some do not think Otto Porter Jr. is worthy of a max contract, but that is not Wall's view.
“This is a city that has been loyal to me since Day One,” said Wall about not testing free agency again. “They drafted me. They are doing things to try and make things better and keep getting better every year. I love being here, I love staying here, this is close to home for me. There is no point in testing free agency if I know where I want to be.”
“I love when John stands up and says ‘This is my city,’” majority owner Ted Leonsis said. “I knew John would want to do this [sign a max extension], not because of conversations with John or people around him, but simply because that is the kind of person he is. The loyalty and living up to commitments is fantastic.”
Not only does Wall enjoy that the Wizards have been generally improving every year in his career, but the way that the city of Washington, D.C. has embraced him from when he was a rookie weighing 190 pounds was a big reason why he was quick to know where he wanted to continue his career.
“They just take me for who I am as a person,” said Wall about the city of Washington, D.C. “When I was a young kid at 19, they embraced me and now I am 26, going on 27 and I still get the same treatment. It’s a pleasure and also my dad was born and raised here so that’s a bigger part for me to want to be here and stay here.”
“This is my second home,” said the Raleigh native. “This is like family to me. Every time I walk around the city, they always show me support and love. They look at me, not as John Wall the superstar basketball player, they look at me as a great person and that’s one thing my mom raised me as a young man. She said, ‘no matter how good you are on the basketball court, you are not a great person without great character and nobody is going to take you seriously.’ And that is always one thing I will keep in my heart.”
One potential obstacle to Wall signing his "supermax" extension this summer was the plausibility of signing a five-year deal worth nearly $220 million if he made an All-NBA team next year. That was not a risk he wanted to take after seeing the futures of Paul George and Gordon Hayward play out.
“For one, this is only my first time making All-NBA. It is not guaranteed. I think there are only like 5 to 7 guys that are guaranteed to make it every year. I didn’t want to take that chance, that risk and then losing out. Why not just go ahead and get it done?”
From a big picture view of Washington sports, the city has a championship drought dating back to 1991 and the Redskins. The Wizards and Wall want to end that even if it takes the rest of his career. Wall not only want to bring the city a title, but wants to join the likes of Wes Unseld, Earl Monroe, Gus Johnson, and Elvin Hayes as a retired number hanging from the rafters.
“We look forward to having him in this franchise and one day having his number up in the rafters,” team president Ernie Grunfeld said.
“I don’t know if we can sign him to a lifetime contract, but six years from now, I am going to mention this [his present remarks of wanting to end his career here] to him so he is here forever,” head coach Scott Brooks said.
“I have an ultimate goal of what I want to do here and what team I want to play for my whole career,” Wall said. “Definitely have a lot of unfinished business where I want to bring a championship and I’ll keep striving to get that. I am not going to stop until I get there. That is why I committed to come back to this city.”