The Washington Wizards have been a mediocre team since the days of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. The Wizards gave us a great playoff series with the Cavs, and that was a team who could compete. But injuries have happened, many of them, and the team fell apart. The Wizards have been in rebuild mode for over 7 years.

Luck seemed to be ready to change when Washington won the number one pick in the 2010 draft and drafted the freshman out of Kentucky, John Wall. As a rookie, he put up great numbers with averages of 16.4 PPG and 8.3 APG. Wall established himself as an up-and-coming player. Though the Wizards struggled all season with a 23-59 record, it showed that they had found a player that they could build on, a franchise-type player.

But with a less then talented roster, the Wizards continued to struggle the following year and finished the shortened season with a 20-46 win-loss record. Wall showed little improvement and posted almost mirror-like numbers. The Wizards did add some veteran talent during the shortened season with the addition of Nene. At the 2012 draft, they picked up star Florida guard Bradley Beal, traded for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, and picked up A.J Price. With a roster that seemed like it could compete now in the East, the Wizards finally seemed to be back on track toward a playoff push.

Before the season started, Wall was diagnosed with a stress injury in his right knee. With Nene also facing injury at the beginning of the season, the Wizards started off the gate slow with a 0-12 start and had a record of 5-28 when Wall finally returned. They were the worst team in the league with truly no upside outside of developing Bradley Beal. And then Wall returned. The Wizards improved drastically, going 21-16 since the return of Wall. Though they finished 29-53 Wall showed true leadership, skill, and more then enough promise for the future.

But the critics were everywhere. Scouts reported that Wall had hit his peak, that no major improvement was to be made in his game. He shot too much, was not a team leader nor a franchise player. An Eastern Conference scout compared his game to Steve Francis, a point guard who really isn’t a point guard. So is he worth the reported 5-year $80 million contract headed his way? There are only a handful of point guards with max contract: All-stars Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook and even former MVP Derrick Rose. Can you put John Wall in the same category as these star players? Wall has never even played a playoff game in his three year career. Can you pay a player that much with so little accomplishments and experience?

Yes. A hundred percent yes. Before this year I would not have been sure, and probably even said there was no way he deserved it. But the potential was there. I loved his game and athleticism. He could take over games with his scoring spurts and wow fans with his amazing, spectacular crossover. But his game was very raw and undeveloped. His shooting touch was sub-par at best and his decision-making would make Wizard fans want to rip their hair out.

And then last season happened.

Every report noted how hard he worked to come back during the season. His return showed it as the team went from the worst team in the league to a .500 winning percentage team.

No team this season had a turnaround like the Wizards and it was because Wall elevated his game and took the Wizards to a respectable team. His averages improved to 18.5 PPG and improving his shooting to a respectable .441 percent and nearly maintaining his 8 assists per game in the least amount of minutes he has ever played in his career. His leadership could be seen on the court with his aggressive play and competitive nature. In the final months of the season he went on a tear putting up 47 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists on a top defensive team in Memphis. Anther night against Cleveland he put up 27-7-14. His game picked up to another level, on the verge of super star level. He made his teammates better all around on a very limited offensive team. He had a PER (player efficiency rating) of 20.8, putting him in the top 25 even after missing a good part of the season.

Wall may have his nights where you question what he’s doing with the ball or what kind of shots he is taking – his shot can always improve. But the difference with John Wall now is the determination. He has been seen working out with Kevin Durant this summer, arguably one of the best shooters in the game, and has been playing on team USA’s minicamp competing for a spot with some of the great PG’s including Kyrie Irving, Mike Conley Jr, rookie of the year Damien Lillard and all-star Jrue Holiday. The work is there and John Wall is ready to take it to the next level. He’s ready to take the young Wizard core and put his team on his back.

The Wall, as he just hat tattooed on his back, is ready to become great and is knocking on the door of stardom. He might not have the rap sheet to prove that he can carry this team to the next level, and he’ll certainly have his critics who will say John Wall has peaked. But he proved this season that he is not scared and welcomes all the hate.

When you have a player that is ready to take the responsibility and lead his team, with all the talent and potential he has, you do not hesitate to offer him the max.

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Main photo credit: Keith Allison via photopin cc