Two Washington Wizards Named NBA All-Stars Despite Team Turmoil

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall has earned his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance, joining fellow teammate Bradley Beal.

NBA All-Star 2018 marks the fifth consecutive All-Star appearance for Washington Wizards point guard John Wall as he joins teammate and first-time All-Star Bradley Beal.

Beal, perhaps the biggest NBA All-Star snub last season, finally gets his long-awaited All-Star selection and will participate in his second career 3-point contest.

Prior to the official announcements of the All-Star reserves, Candance Buckner of the Washington Post reported Beal would be selected to his first NBA All-Star game with no mention of a selection for Wall.

Furthermore, the All-Star backcourt is the first time two Washington Wizards players were selected since Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison in 2007-08. At the time, both averaged over 20 points pre-All-Star break as the Wizards lost eight straight games leading up to the 2007-08 NBA All-Star game and began the second half two games below .500 at 25-27.

Wall missed significant time in Nov. and Dec. after receiving a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection to minimize discomfort in his left knee. As a result, Wall played just 10 games in Nov. and Dec. as the Wizards went 4-5 during the point guard’s absence.

However, Wall is in the midst of his best month yet, averaging 22 points, 10.4 assists, and 41 percent from beyond the arc. Not to mention, Wall is leading the East in assists,

The table below shows Wall’s basic statistics in each of the last three months, which reveals drastic improvements and back to averaging his normal double-double in Jan.

However, should it be a surprise that both Wall and Beal were selected to this year’s All-Star game? The TNT crew revealed their picks for the East reserves and not one person picked both Wall and Beal except Ernie Johnson.

Above all, the Wizards All-Star news comes in the midst of team turmoil after reports of a recent unproductive “players only” meeting. Not to mention, Stephen A. Smith reported Tuesday morning on ESPN’s First Take, “There are teammates of his [Wall], who I’m told, talk behind his back.” Smith goes on to mention it’s NOT Beal who is talking because they’re talking about him too.

Watch Smith’s report about the Wizards in full:

Following the official announcement on TNT’s Players Only Pregame Show, Beal and Wall joined the show to talk about their All-Star selections and addressed the state of the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards aren’t the only team though with an All-Star backcourt as point guard Kyle Lowry and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan nab All-Star spots. The rest of the East reserves include Al Horford, Kevin Love, Victor Oladipo and Kristaps Porzingis.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2012 has already established himself as one of the greatest Washington Wizards players ever as the all-time leader in both assists (4,941) and steals (917).

Wall moves into second all-time in Wizards history for most consecutive All-Star selections, passing Gus Johnson‘s four straight All-Star seasons (1968-1971).  Will Wall eventually outdo the eight consecutive All-Star selections from Washington Bullets legend Elvin Hayes?

NBA All-Star Reserves Reaction

https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/955958418149437440

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