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John Wall was asked this weekend what it would be like to face the Wizards on Tuesday night for the first time since they traded him. He played it down a bit, saying there would be more emotion when he returned to Washington in February.
Well, that will be hard to imagine once you hear his in-depth thoughts on playing for the Wizards on Tuesday, which he shared with Chris Miller of NBC Sports Washington. Now with the Rockets, Wall admitted facing the Wizards was personal after the way his outing was handled and he wanted revenge.
“Just seeing everyone that’s out there, a lot of people on that side that probably didn’t believe I could come back to be who I am. And probably some people who had a little word to say. say about me being traded, “Wall told Miller.
“I feel like it was quite a process and it wasn’t just something that happened overnight. I think it was in progress. This is my motivation. Who wouldn’t want to beat the team that traded them and feel like they’re done? “
Oh, there is more. Much more, in fact. Wall made direct and indirect references to the people and events that played a role in his departure.
Miller emphatically asked Wall if Tuesday night’s game was personal and that’s where he went into detail.
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“I feel like I do. I really feel it because, I know I had my say and my responsibilities in what I did off the pitch and the things I did. [did], but I confessed. I said my apologies and it’s the best I can do. Nobody is perfect. We all live and learn from our mistakes. I wish that had never happened, but it did, yes. I walked away from it. My state of mind was to come back and compete at a high level in the one jersey I had only known for 10 years, ”said Wall, perhaps referring to the video from the offseason which he was apologizing for. who allegedly showed him flashing gang signs at a party.
“I just wish I had known in advance and not had to beat around the bush to figure things out. It’s just my motivation there. They thought I was done. Basically that’s how I feel. This is the opportunity to show them that I have not finished. But the most important thing for me is to get the victory. I don’t care how many numbers I have, it’s all about winning. This is the most important thing because if I get 40 and we lose the trade doesn’t look so bad from their point of view because they beat us in the game they played us. So my ultimate goal is to try and get a win for my team tomorrow. “
Wall didn’t name any names, but he explained in depth how he thought the Wizards could have been more honest in the days leading up to the trade, which sent Wall and a protected first-round pick to Houston. in exchange for Russell Westbrook. The deal took place on December 2, but the initial rumor was reported a week earlier.
“Most importantly, all I really wanted from the start was just to be told the truth. This is the most important thing and what made it so difficult for me to understand what was going on because I hadn’t told the truth. . I understand this is a business and things go on and people move on and you are traded, organizations in different ways. When I heard the rumors, I called and asked them if they were true or if there was nothing to worry about? From that day on, all I heard was “no, these rumors aren’t true, don’t worry.” In all reality, it was true, ”Wall said.
Wall had never really been a part of business rumors before in his career, so it’s understandable that the experience came as a shock. However, it is not uncommon for organizations to prevent actors involved in the trades from participating in these conversations. Maybe Wall felt he deserved to know it, but wizards obviously wanted to keep their negotiations a secret, even with him.
We may never know the full story on both sides, but what we do know is Tuesday night just got even more interesting.
Watch Chris Miller’s full interview with John Wall on Wizards Pregame Live Tuesday night. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.
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