TORONTO — In less than five minutes, John Wall wrapped up his all-star weekend responsibilities.
Wall took a quick round of questions after scoring 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting in a non-competitive All-Star Game. Wall’s 22 points were the most by a Washington Wizard in the All-Star Game since Moses Malone scored 27 points in 1987.
Last season, when Wall was a starter, he passed the ball more. This year, he took the free scoring opportunities offered.
“I told you all I was going to try to score the ball,” Wall said. “My first five minutes I was out there just being cool, then I started playing for real.”
Wall also had three assists, three rebounds and two turnovers. Oddly, he was the only member of the Eastern Conference to have a positive plus/minus rating in the game.
He said his previously sore right knee feels “great.” Wizards trainer Eric Waters traveled to Toronto to work with Wall throughout the weekend. Wall said he received treatment for about eight hours a day, essentially whenever he was in his hotel relaxing.
Wall intends to do some more relaxing. He said he’ll get a couple workouts in and “just going to get a little bit of sun for the two days” before the Wizards resume practice Wednesday. They start the post-all-star break schedule with a rescheduled game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday. They host the Detroit Pistons on Friday, and travel to Miami on Saturday to complete a run of three games in three days.
He is also already looking toward next season’s All-Star Game, which will be in Charlotte, just two and a half hours from his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.
“I can’t wait,” Wall said. “I’m very excited. Hopefully my team, we’re having a better record next year, so I have that opportunity and the fans vote me in to be a starter.”
The Western Conference won Sunday, 196-173, in Kobe Bryant’s final All-Star Game. Bryant scored 10 points. Paul George of the Indiana Pacers scored 41 points, one short of Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star Game record set in 1962.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook was named MVP, becoming the first player to win outright back-to-back All-Star Game MVPs in league history. Sixteen players scored in double figures. No defense was played.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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