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John Wall not a fan of 2021 All-Star Game but respects Chris Paul, Adam Silver

ben dubose
·3 min read

Earlier Thursday, news leaked of an apparent agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to hold a 2021 All-Star Game on March 7 in Atlanta.

Given factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the revised NBA calendar, it wasn’t a development that was universally praised around the league. Later that night, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James even went as far as to call it “a slap in the face” to players.

Rockets point guard John Wall, who has earned All-Star honors five times in his distinguished career, said after Houston’s Thursday win that he “doesn’t really agree” with the decision to hold the game. However, Wall respects NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA President Chris Paul and understands what led to the tough choice. His comments:

We all understand that it’s a business, and what they’re doing it for and what they’re trying to get out of it. I really don’t care for it. If I make the game, I’m happy. If I don’t, okay. My job is to try and lead this team, and try to get us in the playoffs. I think it’s going to be a little forced. To try and get there the day before, then play the next day and get out, that’s not really an All-Star Weekend. We’re used to have a whole weekend of having festivities, and having fans.

But I understand what the NBA is doing, and I respect everything that Chris Paul does as our president. Whatever decision he comes up with, and what Adam Silver does — because I feel like those two are great guys that are great leaders for our league. Getting us into the bubble last year, and conducting that the right way and letting us play. And then, also, giving us the opportunity to play this year. I don’t really agree with it, but I respect those two guys’ decision. I feel like whatever they come up with, they have the best interest at heart for the NBA, and also us, as the players.

Now 30 years old, Wall is averaging 18.2 points (38.2% on 3-pointers) and 5.9 assists in 29.8 minutes per game this season. He’s also helped turn the Rockets into an elite defensive team. But for the 6-foot-4 floor general, his case involves much more than statistics.

The Rockets are 9-4 when Wall plays this season, and 7-0 when he plays without James Harden. On the other hand, they are 2-6 when he sits out. Should that trend continue, the case for his value is clear.

But as he explained, Wall’s focus at this stage of his career appears to be solely on trying to get his Rockets (11-10) to the 2021 playoffs.

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