SB Nation DC - John Wall Works Out Individually For Wizards Thursdayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-06-17T18:22:56-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12420812010-06-17T18:22:56-04:002010-06-17T18:22:56-04:00Bullets Forever Recaps John Wall's Workout With Wizards
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<p>John Wall spoke at length with the media following his workout today with the Washington Wizards, and <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2010/6/17/1523438/john-wall-workout-impressions-he">Mike Prada was there to take it all in</a>. What impressed him the most about Wall's media session? The likely No. 1 pick's general demeanor, as well as the types of questions he jumped at answering:</p>
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<p>I haven't talked to a ton of players in my year in the locker room, but of the ones I have, one thing struck me: many of the league's best players get tired by cliche questions and love it when you ask them about something basketball-related. Some, like <span>Kobe Bryant</span>, take it to an extreme. Some, like <span>Gilbert Arenas</span>, will talk no matter what, but will go into even more detail when you ask him about his basketball mindset. But chances are, the great players, or at least the ones who handle the media correctly, tend to be boring with cliche questions and interesting when you ask them about basketball.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101095/John_Wall" class="sbn-auto-link">John Wall</a> talked for 18 minutes today, and he demonstrated this quality to a T. He had lots of cliche answers to cliche questions, such as how he'll play with Gilbert Arenas, what it's like to be in this position with all the attention ("it's a dream come true) and such. He also found a way to make people laugh without being overly gregarious. But when he truly came alive was when he received basketball-related questions. There, he showed how he's humble, analytical and always looking to improve. He talked about his strengths in the most general terms, and went into great depth with his weaknesses. It was very encouraging to hear.</p>
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<p>Be sure to read the detailed recap of Wall's workout, including more quotes, at SB Nation's Wizards blog, <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2010/6/17/1523438/john-wall-workout-impressions-he">Bullets Forever</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/17/1523637/john-wall-wizards-workout-recapAlex Reed2010-06-17T15:57:43-04:002010-06-17T15:57:43-04:00VIDEO: John Wall's Workout With The Wizards
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<p>(via <a href="http://www.truthaboutit.net/2010/06/john-wall-wizards-workout-footage.html">Truth About It</a>)</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/17/1523380/video-john-wall-wizards-workout-nba-draftMike Prada2010-06-17T15:42:57-04:002010-06-17T15:42:57-04:00John Wall Talks About Improvements He Can Make To His Game
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<p><i>Mike Prada attended John Wall's workout today and files this report.</i></p>
<p>Clearly, John Wall was working out with the Wizards because they are likely to take him with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. At the same time, though, Wall was working out in part because he's always looking to improve his game and become a better player. </p>
<p>In that sense, Wall remained humble. When asked initially where he needs to improve, Wall said "everything," because the whole game changes once you get to the NBA. But more specifically, he said the one area he must improve is his jump shot.</p>
<p>"Most of it is getting my reps in," Wall said. "I feel like, at certain times, I shoot it a good way for like 10 minutes, but I change it up [after that]. So it's just about getting consistent and keeping it to that one shot."</p>
<p>Wall shot a set shot a lot at Kentucky, but was shooting jump shots today during the workout. Things weren't going so well there - Wall missed many of his mid-range attempts and looked visibly frustrated. </p>
<p>"I thought I could have shot the ball a little better, but my back started tightening up. But I thought I did a good job."</p>
<p>Wall also emphasized that his ability to run the pick and roll in the NBA is dependent on his ability to shoot the mid-range jumper consistently. He pointed to Rajon Rondo as a guy who would be almost impossible to stop once he knocks down the mid-range jump shot consistently.</p>
<p>"If you're a point guard and you can pass and you can score off pick and rolls, it should be easy [to pick it up], but the key to running pick and roll is being able to knock down shots. If not, you have to get the pick and roll set a little lower so you can get into the paint. You see how guys are guarding Rondo off the pick and roll. I want to be the kind of person who can knock that [shot] down."</p>
<p>But don't worry folks, because Wall is the kind of guy who will do anything possible to improve. He sat courtside at a recent NBA Finals game, and while most would have just been there to enjoy themselves, Wall said he spent the whole time studying Kobe Bryant.</p>
<p>"I was a fan [there], but I was also a student of the game," Wall said. "You see how Kobe [Bryant] has great footwork. Every time he gets the ball, he knows what spot he wants to get to. That's the key in the NBA - getting to your spots and having certain angles to beat guys. [Kobe's] not as explosive as he was when he first got into the league, but now, his footwork is so good and he knows how to get to certain angles and get guys off their feet. That's something I try to look into to try to get better."</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/17/1523218/john-walls-wizards-nba-draft-workout-improvementsMike Prada2010-06-17T13:06:27-04:002010-06-17T13:06:27-04:00John Wall Works Out For Wizards, Talks To Media
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<p><i>Mike Prada attended John Wall's workout today and files this report.</i></p>
<p>John Wall conducted a short workout for the Wizards today that lasted about half an hour before speaking to reporters afterward. The workout itself was pretty basic, with pick and roll drills, shooting drills and free throws, but Wall did manage to throw down a lefty windmill jam as part of the proceedings. His jumper, however, looked a bit flat, and he admitted he wasn't thrilled with how he did there.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">"I think I could have shot the ball a little better, but I started tightening up," he said. "But I thought I did pretty well."</span></p>
<p>No matter: after the workout, Ernie Grunfeld and Ted Leonsis whisked Wall away before he talked to the media. You can draw your own conclusions there. After that, Wall talked to the media for about 18 minutes following the workout. Some quick highlights.</p>
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<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Wall did not say that the Wizards have made their decision on drafting him yet: <span style="line-height: 16px;">"They haven't told me I was going be the guy, and I don't know if I'll be the guy. I just came out here to work out and try to impress them, and hopefully on draft night, they pick me."</span></span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Wall said he has been talking to Gilbert Arenas on BlackBerry messenger, trading jokes and checking in on his progress. When asked about potentially playing with Arenas, he said: "He's a talented player and a great scorer. I feel like if I got picked here, the coach would find a way to put us on the court together and let it work from there, but I think I can play with anybody."</span></span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Wall admitted that he knows the first year will be tough: "[Rod Strickland] told me it's going to be tough. 'At the beginning, your first year, your going to have to learn a lot.' I know that. I'm not going to come in here and be the best player in the world [right away] and not have ups and downs, so I'm just preparing myself for that."</span></span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Wall talked a lot about leadership, first saying that " If I'm going to have the ball in my hands, they have to have to trust me, and my coaching staff is going to have to trust me. At the same time, I'm going to have to listen to certain things they tell me, because they've been in this situation before and played on an NBA level, and it's going to be my first season, so I still have a lot of stuff to learn." </span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">He was also asked about potentially playing with a lot of young teammates: "We'll basically be on the same page and can talk a certain way, but sometimes, you got to put your foot down, put them in their place. And they got to do the same thing to me, make sure I'm in the right place, make sure I'm getting better, make sure I'm in the gym and working out."</span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Wall said he hopes to improve his jump shot, first and foremost, and is primarily working on finding consistency with his form. "I feel like at certain times, I shoot [my jumper] the good way for like 10 minutes, and then the next time, I change it up. [My goal is] just to get consistent and keep it that one shot."</span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">That said, he also thinks his game will translate better to the more open-court style of the NBA.</span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Wall said it was Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins who came up with the John Wall Dance, but both were "scared" to do it at Midnight Madness. </span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Wall said he challenged Barack Obama to a game of HORSE, but Obama declined.</span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Wall said he studied Kobe Bryant closely when he sat courtside at the NBA Finals.</span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Wall said he emulated Allen Iverson growing up.</span></font></li>
<li><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Finally, Wall said he figured it might be a year or two before he makes the playoffs, but he's willing to go through that.</span></font></li>
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<div>More later, with pictures and video:</div>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/17/1522917/john-wall-wizards-nba-draft-workout-mediaMike Prada2010-06-16T14:57:57-04:002010-06-16T14:57:57-04:00John Wall Will Conduct Individual Workout For Wizards Thursday
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<p>The Wizards just officially announced that John Wall will be in town tomorrow for an individual workout with the team prior to a group workout with several other draft prospects. If all goes well, Wall will surely be the Wizards' choice with the number one pick in the draft.</p>
<p>The workout begins at 11 a.m., according to the team.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/16/1521350/john-wall-wizards-workout-nba-draft-2010Mike Prada2010-06-11T10:08:15-04:002010-06-11T10:08:15-04:00Evan Turner Confirms He Won't Be No. 1 Pick
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<p><a href="http://">Michael Lee of the Washington Post</a> is reporting that the Wizards will indeed select John Wall with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. The reason? Wall is working out with the Wizards a week before the draft, and Evan Turner, the other top prospect in this draft, isn't. </p>
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<p>David Falk, agent for Ohio State junior Evan Turner, said that his client would not work out for the Wizards. Falk and Turner were both in attendance at Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Boston. Falk said Turner would only work out for Philadelphia, which holds the No. 2 pick, on June 17 - the same day Wall will work out for the Wizards. Wall is currently scheduled to workout for the 76ers the day before. </p>
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<p>Turner confirmed that he's out of the race for the No. 1 pick, telling Lee that "I did all that I could do." I guess it's time to get those John Wall jerseys ready.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/11/1513047/john-wall-wizards-number-one-pick-nba-draft-evan-turnerMike Prada2010-06-11T00:20:32-04:002010-06-11T00:20:32-04:00Wizards Will Take John Wall With First Pick In NBA Draft
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<p>According to a tweet by the Washington Post's <a href="http://twitter.com/MrMichaelLee/status/15903438053">Michael Lee</a>:</p>
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<p>It's official: Wiz taking John Wall No. 1. David Falk told me Evan Turner will NOT work out for WAS - has one workout sched for PHI on 6/17</p>
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<p>If that isn't enough evidence pointing to the Wizards taking Wall at number one, I don't know what is. They should start printing the jerseys right now.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/11/1512630/wizards-will-take-john-wall-withB.J. Pierson2010-06-09T21:07:01-04:002010-06-09T21:07:01-04:00John Wall Signs Five-Year Deal With Reebok
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<p>John Wall <a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/jimmywa11/status/15810635997">announced on his Twitter feed</a> that he has signed an endorsement deal with Reebok shoes.</p>
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<p>Signed wit #Reebok…leegggoo!!</p>
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<p>Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports <a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/wojyahoonba">reports</a> that the mammoth terms of the deal have been agreed to and that Wall will have his own signature shoe.</p>
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<p>John Wall’s endorsement agreement with Reebok will be worth nearly $25 million over five years, sources tell Y! Sports.</p>
<p>Reebok is banking that John Wall, the projected No. 1 overall pick, will take over for Allen Iverson as the face of the brand.</p>
<p>Reebok and Wall's agent, Dan Fegan, should have a signed agreement soon, sources say, but terms agreed upon in principle.</p>
<p>Sources say that Wall’s reps, Dan Fegan and Brian Clifton, negotiated two guaranteed ‘signature shoes’ in the Reebok deal.</p>
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<p>Here's Wojnarowski's <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wallreebok060910">full report</a> on Yahoo!</p>
<p>Head over to SBNation's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com">Bullets Forever</a> for all your Wizards needs. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/9/1510247/john-wall-reebok-shoe-dealBen Golliver