John Wall Talks Los Angeles Clippers Move, What His Role Will Be

John Wall surprised NBA fans when it was reported that he would be joining the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2022-23 season as many believed that he would be joining cross-town rivals in the form of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wall formalized his decision to be with the Clippers last week after coming to a buyout agreement with the Houston Rockets and is now poised to be their lead point guard.

However, it will come at the cost of competing with last year’s starter in Reggie Jackson for the job.

“I know a lot of people ask me, are you mad if you start or not start? I don’t care. I’m a competitor and I just want an opportunity to go out there and compete for a spot. And if I get it, I get it,” Wall said as quoted by The Athletic during his media scrum.

“Whoever gets the spot is great. We all just come here with one goal and trying to win a championship.”

Many have also been concerned with Wall’s health as he has struggled with multiple injuries throughout his career, most notably with his knees because of his playing style echoing that of 2008-09 Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose.

He addressed those notions by reminding the press that although the Rockets were not that great of a team since James Harden left, he had been producing at a high level despite playing in just 40 games.

Joining the Clippers gives Wall one thing that he did not have to be with the Washington Wizards and in Houston: being the focal point of the offense.

“I don’t have to be Batman every night for us to win… On our team that we have, I think anyone can be Batman. I’m happy because I don’t have to have the best player guarding me every night like I have had my whole career,” he mentioned.

Wall is correct in this regard since the he will be with guys like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard plus the aforementioned Jackson splitting time with him in the guard spot.

All in all, it is a great situation for Wall’s career as he looks forward to playing winning basketball for the first time in a long time without the pressure that comes with being a star player.

Should Wall and his co-stars be healthy for much of next season, the Western Conference is certainly going to be a bloodbath similar to much of the 2000s.