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Wall: NBA has 'gotten a little softer' with healthy players resting

Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

We're used to old heads calling the NBA "soft," but at least one reasonably young player agrees.

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall isn't a fan of missing games when healthy in order to rest - a practice more common now than ever before - and compared it to previous eras.

"That's the difference about our league now. It's kind of gotten a little softer," Wall told J. Michael of CSNmidatlantic.com. "Guys sit out and rest. I understand the coach made a decision, you can't go against what the coach said or the doctor said."

The 26-year-old sprained his left foot in Wednesday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but ended up returning to the contest. Refusing to miss any time, he'll play Friday versus the Chicago Bulls, though his coach Scott Brooks wants to keep his minutes in the 30s.

"I'm not the type of guy who wants to sit down and rest," the All-Star said. "I think you owe it to the fans. They paid money to come see us play. That's how a professional goes out there and competes. If nothing is hurt, you can play go play."

Wall feels especially obligated to play more now that he is feeling good, as injuries have forced him to miss time throughout his seven-year career. He was sidelined for the first 33 games in 2012-13 due to a knee ailment.

"I missed games I didn't want to miss in the past because I was injured. I make up for the time I can make up," he said.

Wall is having a career year for the No. 3 Wizards, with 23.2 points, 10.7 dimes, 4.3 rebounds, and two steals in 36.8 minutes per outing. He's sat out only two contests so far this campaign, and a combined eight regular-season games the previous three years.

It's a refreshing perspective, especially when considering all the healthy players who rested in a marquee matchup last week, to the disappointment of many. Several others have spoken out against the "DNP-rest" movement, including Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, and commissioner Adam Silver.

Related: Marc Gasol hates mandatory rest

Older folks have called the NBA "soft" for a variety of reasons. Retired great Gary Payton said it because of the decline of physicality and trash talk, while Shaquille O'Neal attributed the softness to rule changes. When making the same claim, Los Angeles Clippers veteran Paul Pierce blamed a lack of competition and rivalries.

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