With 20 games remaining in the regular season, Wall has seemingly followed through on that promise. He’s averaging 22.7 points and 10.9 assists per game — both career highs — and the Wizards are within four games of the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference. So, does Wall, who was named to his fourth all-star game in January, feel as if he’s finally getting the respect he deserves?

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“I think I’m starting to,” Wall said on Fox Sports analyst Chris Broussard’s In the Zone podcast this week. “I feel like the year I made the all-star team and started [during the 2014-15 season], I feel like I was going to be on the all-NBA team that year, and it didn’t happen. I think I averaged like 19 and 10, or something. This year, I think it’s turned around. We’re winning more games, the most games I’ve ever won going into an all-star break. Like I said, [when] you’re winning, your team’s doing well, you get the recognition. Without my coaches and the other 14 guys I wouldn’t be the player in the position I am now.”

While it might seem best for the Wizards and their fans that Wall never feels adequately respected, the point guard said there’s no chance of him becoming complacent with his status among his NBA peers. One of Wall’s favorite quotes, which is tattooed on his body, is “Never satisfied, so determined.”

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“That same hunger you have when you’re trying to go reach the number one spot, or whatever spot you’re trying to get to, you’ve got to have that same hunger when you get it,” Wall told Broussard. “How you went and got it when you were hunting people, they’re coming to hunt you. Do you want somebody to come and take your spot? So that’s how I focus on it.”

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As a guest on John Calipari’s podcast last month, Wall gave his former Kentucky coach a similar answer when asked about what drives him at this point in his career.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of things in my career, but I just want to be great,” Wall said. “I want to be remembered as one of the greats, not just, ‘Oh, he was a good basketball player, or a good point guard in this league.’ I want to be great. I know I want to win an NBA championship for the city of D.C., and I know I have a lot of things I want to accomplish. I’m nowhere near that, and I want to keep pushing until I get those.”

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At 38-24, Wall and the Wizards are hunting their first division title since 1979. Beyond that, Wall has made it no secret that one of the team’s goals is reaching the Eastern Conference finals. Broussard asked Wall what he makes of pundits declaring LeBron James and the Cavaliers the clear favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals for a third consecutive year.

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“It can’t do nothing but fuel you, give you motivation, because LeBron’s been to six straight Finals,” Wall said. “Two times with the Cavs and won one last year, so they’re defending champs and it’s like nobody really gave them a big test. I feel like the East has got stronger this year. … When you get the opportunity, if you do meet up with him, wherever you meet him up — first round, second round, Eastern Conference finals — you have to have that mind-set throughout one through 15 guys and the coaching staff have to believe, you’ve got to feel like you can win, give them a fight. I mean, anybody can be thrown at any time. It’s about staying healthy and having heart and competing.”

Broussard also asked Wall about his much-discussed relationship with backcourt-mate Bradley Beal, which seems as healthy as ever after some candid comments by both players during the offseason led to speculation that they didn’t get along.

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