Mar 17, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) yells from the players bench against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Wizards won 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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There wasn’t much to be excited about this past season. When things got ugly for the Washington Wizards – and they often did – it never seemed to get much better. But, through it all, the fans had John Wall.

Wall had the best season of his career, but he continued to be notoriously underrated.

The 3-time All-Star averaged roughly 20 points and 10 assists per game. Despite the ridiculous statline and the fact that he was single handedly, at times, carrying the team, he was rarely seen on national television or discussed by known pundits.

The former first overall pick did all he could to keep the Washington Wizards competitive, but there’s only so much he could do when he’s sharing the floor with fringe NBA players. Really, winning 41 games and finishing with a .500 record is almost an accomplishment when considering the circumstances.

Washington has failed to surround Wall with talent that could blossom without his help.

Everyone on the team is dependent on him for contribution, as I’ve mentioned numerous times in the past. With that said, Wall’s growth has almost become stagnated because of how much pressure he’s had on him to carry the club.

Wall – as great as he’s been for the Wizards – still has some growing to do before he becomes an MVP candidate.

Prior to coming into the NBA, I think we all envisioned Wall as an MVP candidate by now. He’s six years into his NBA career and hasn’t made an All-NBA team yet.

Now, again, that’s not a knock on Wall. He’s been a true blessing ever since he stepped foot in D.C. He’s done everything the Wizards have asked of him, both on and off the court. But that doesn’t mean he can’t grow.

The past coaching staff that was led by Randy Wittman wasn’t particularly high on player development. They sought experienced players and rarely gave the young players chances. Player development just wasn’t their thing, which could be a reason why Wall never became an MVP candidate under their leadership.

Scott Brooks, however, has recognized that Wall does actually have a few levels of growth left.

"I think John has another level. Maybe 2 or 3 more levels. Not only from a basketball standpoint, but a leadership standpoint" #WizardsTalk — CSN Wizards (@CSNWizards) April 27, 2016

When thinking about successful players with untapped potential, Wall is almost immediately the first player who came to mind.

Wall has added a buch of necessary things to his game that have helped him become a perennial All-Star. Coming out of Kentucky, Wall played at one speed, causing him to create reckless turnovers and ultimately give up meaningful possessions. He’s slowed down and knows how to switch speeds. That alone has helped him become an All-Star.

His jump shot, which was broken in college, has also seen great improvement.

Wall shot a career-high 35 percent from three this season on a career-high 4.3 attempts per game. Defenses can no longer go under screens, expecting Wall to miss. He’s capable of hitting the outside shot, which has opened up the driving lane and opportunities for his teammates.

Wall still has to add a couple of dimensions to his game to become an MVP candidate, which is something we all believe he’s capable of becoming. He can add a reliable floater – something most top scoring guards have in their arsenal and could allow him to finish inside without taking major spills. He can continue to improve on his outside shot. His turnovers, which were at a career-high this season, need to decrease too.

If Wall continues to improve under Brooks, he can take his game to another level. Brooks isn’t a blind fan. He knows that Wall is capable of taking that next step. And, as they say, the first step towards improvement is recognizing the need to improve. Brooks can already check that off the list.