Washington Wizards: The MVP case for John Wall

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall is having the best season of his career, and he doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. He’s making a serious MVP case.

The Washington Wizards have been on a tear lately, and the biggest reason is their point guard: John Wall.

We’ve all known that John Wall is one of the best point guards in the league, he’s been that for awhile now, but he’s making a serious case to be considered the best point guard in the league.

And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Just ask Wall himself:

"I feel like I’m the best point guard. There’s a lot of great guards in the Eastern Conference. Kyrie does a great job doing what he does. Isaiah does what he does. We’re all different type of point guards. I’m just all-around, do-everything. I’m the best point guard — 20 points, 10 assists almost five rebounds, two steals — play defense against every point guard on the opposing team."

Is he being pompous? Maybe a little, but he’s not wrong either. We discussed a while ago, when it was announced that Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving would be the All-Star Game starter for the East, why Wall deserved that starting spot.

Wall is having an incredible year that seems to be overshadowed a little bit by two things: 1. The fact that Russell Westbrook is averaging a triple-double, and 2. The fact that the Washington Wizards aren’t featured in too many primetime games.

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But that should change soon, especially after the Wizards performed exceptionally well in their past three ESPN/TNT games, losing only an overtime thriller to the Cavaliers, and beating the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

If you want visual proof of just how good John Wall is, just take a look at the highlights from their game against the Thunder, where they handily won 120-98.

While yes, the reason the Wizards are succeeding has to do with the excellent play from the whole team, especially Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris, Wall’s contribution cannot be overstated.

Wall is averaging 22.9 points per game, good for 10th among all guards, 6th among all point guards. He’s also 9th in the league in double-doubles with 34 on the year so far.

His assist numbers have been incredible too, he’s averaging 10.6 assists per game, good for second-best in the league behind Westbrook, and he’s second in the league in assist points created per game with 25.2, behind James Harden.

Wall is also number one in the league among qualifying players in assist to pass percentage, with 17.7% of his passes ending turning into assists.

In short: Wall has played like the best point guard in the league. The Wizards are third in the East, just 4 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, and with the news that Cavs forward Kevin Love will be out for some time, the Wizards have a real shot at first place.

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If that happens, Wall’s MVP case will just get stronger and stronger. Is he the best point guard in the East? I think so. Is he the best point guard in the NBA? I’d say there’s a strong argument for that.

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