The Los Angeles Clippers have been threatening to make a serious run for the NBA title since they acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but they have often been hampered by injuries. They got to the Western Conference Finals during the 2020-21 season but were unable to go further after an injury to Kawhi Leonard that also kept him from playing last season.
With Leonard and George both set to return this season, though, and a deep roster that also stepped up in their absence, things are looking very promising for the Clippers. And the recent acquisition of John Wall after he was bought out by the Houston Rockets has added another piece to the roster that could make all the difference in the coming season.
Wall spoke about how he doesn’t have to be the ‘Batman’ for the team every night and can focus on contributing in his way. He also added in the same interview, as reported by ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, that it was going to be trouble for whoever faced the Clippers to have the 3rd best defender on the team guarding him.
“I still got all the stuff I had in 2016,” he said. “But like, yeah, I only played 40 games [two seasons ago], but last year wasn’t my fault or my choice, and I couldn’t control that.
“It is going to be harder for them to defend,” Wall said. “For me, I’m happy because I don’t have to have the best player guarding me every night like I have had my whole career.
“You tell me the third-best defender is going to have to guard me? Good luck.”
Wall may not be the player that he once was, but he still averaged 20 points per game in the 40 games he played for Houston. With opposing defenses having to take care of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Wall may just come back ready to remind the NBA world why he earned the massive contract that he did.
