Wall using All-NBA snubs as motivation: 'They still don't respect me'
John Wall has been an All-Star the past three years, leading the Washington Wizards and posting double-doubles like it's nothing.
And yet, he hasn't received the national recognition he believes he deserves.
"They still don't respect me," Wall recently told Andrew Sharp of SI. "But I mean, that's something that comes with the games. I'm gonna let people know this season."
The Wizards bowed out in the second round of the playoffs in 2014 and 2015, but missed the playoffs completely last season as Wall suited up in 77 games while playing through pain. Despite his injuries, the point guard managed to average a career-high 19.9 points, 10.2 assists, and 1.9 steals in 2015-16.
"You have career years, when you're winning games, you start an All-Star Game, and you're still not put on the top three All-NBA teams," said Wall, who earned only seven All-NBA vote points (no first-team nominations).
"That lets you know. But all I can do is control what John Wall does. Going out there and leading my team. You're not getting any recognition as a point guard if you ain't winning."
Having faced criticism out of Kentucky, the 26-year-old has overcome adversity before. He said he thrives on the trash talk and doubt, using it as motivation. Regardless of what people say, he has high hopes for himself, setting his sights on finishing his career as Washington's assists and steals leader.
"I want to set records here that people won't break for a long, long time," he said, before nothing the importance of team success and winning the franchise its second NBA championship - and first since 1978.
"But none of that will mean anything if I don't hang a banner here."
He expanded on what success this campaign would look like for the Wiz, who he maintained "can go out there and compete against anybody."
"Success for us is getting over 50 wins," Wall said. "The Finals, that's our ultimate goal. And we gotta take the next step, make it to the Eastern Conference finals. Because you never know what could happen in those situations."