John Wall: ‘When I Have A Guy One-On-One Guarding Me, I Feel Like He’s At My Mercy’

Call it a coming-out party for John Wall. The 24-year-old Washington Wizards point guard and former No. 1 overall pick is enjoying his best season to date, posting career highs in assists (10 per game) and in rebounding, and hoping to lead the Wizards on another playoff run. Off the floor, Wall has become a brand ambassador for Adidas and American Express, showing that success comes in a variety of ways.

The Huffington Post caught up with Wall before his first-ever start in the Feb. 15 All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. We chatted about his growing prowess on the court, his sheer love of the open floor, why he still appreciates John Calipari and whether or not Kentucky can run the table en route to a national championship.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

You have taken another step forward this season and your numbers speak for themselves. What was the one thing from last summer you felt you had to improve?

Just improving my jump shot, adding post-up moves, adding a floater. Just trying to change every aspect of my game every year. You can get better and add something new, but you also gotta keep working at the things you’re already good at.

Have you seen defenses guard you differently this year, now that your jump shot has become that much more consistent? Specifically in pick-and-roll where they’re not necessarily going under the screen anymore.

Yeah, I think so. That’s making the job a lot easier for me of getting into the paint and finding my teammates and letting the court open up even more where we’re able to knock down shots.

What, then, is the next step in your maturation process as a lead guard?

My jump shot. The more and more I keep improving that and getting consistent with it on a nightly basis and keep knocking down open shots, it’d make my job a lot easier.

Yeah, that kinda elbow jump shot where you can attack the basket.

With that in mind, when you see what Charles Barkley said about sabermetrics, were you surprised?

Nah, well, I don’t look at the numbers or my percentages. I just know that’s where I’m comfortable and that’s where I work out of. So it’s not about the numbers. Sometimes my numbers might be better from the wing, but I know where I’m comfortable in certain situations.

When I watch you play, it seems like you are more comfortable shooting in rhythm than spot-up situations.

Yeah, I like more rhythm. I’m more of a rhythm type of player.

Lastly, can I get a Kentucky prediction?

I just want them to win the national championship.

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The Huffington Post