As much as being a first-time All-Star is an individual accomplishment for John Wall, the day after his selection as a reserve by the NBA’s coaches, it was all about the team.
“It’s a great honor. You strive to be the best thing you can be,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. “This is one of the honors that he’s received as an individual. We’re all happy for him. He’s worked hard. Well-deserved.
“As I told the team, it’s a testament to them, too. A lot of time you have to put yourself in position as a team to be winning, the playoff race, to be fighting. We are. When you win good things happen.”
Wall said that Wittman congratulated him in front of the team before Friday’s practice.
“I said, ’Thank you’ to those guys,” Wall said. “If it wasn’t for those guys I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be an All-Star or be the player I’m becoming.”
The Wizards (22-23) play the Oklahoma City Thunder (38-10) at Verizon Center on Saturday.
“Estatic. I’m happy for the kid,” Martell Webster said of Wall. “He works hard. It’s a testament to the hard work he’s put in. Now he’s an All-Star. I’m pretty sure knowing his work ethic he’s pretty much solidified for a while.”
Bradley Beal is expected to be an All-Star one day. In his second season, he has been limited by a stress reaction to his lower right leg that has cut into his playing time.
“The team definitely had a big part to do with it,” Beal said of Wall’s selection. “It’s just the system and just everything he’s done. He’s been playing well, tremendous every night. We do a good job of setting up and getting him involved and supporting everything he does.”
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