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Rockets guard John Wall: ‘I still think I’m an All-Star in this league’

Rockets guard John Wall

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 23: John Wall #1 of the Houston Rockets talks during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 23, 2021 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Troy Fields/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBAE via Getty Images

John Wall said he views himself as the Rockets’ franchise player.

In a certain sense, sure. A five-time All-Star, Wall is the only current Houston player who has ever made an All-Star team. He’s the Rockets’ highest-paid player and starting point guard – both roles that naturally lend themselves to leadership.

Wall might be the franchise player… on a last-place team in a post-James Harden hell.

But Wall holds himself in far higher regard than that.

Wall, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

“I still think I’m an All-Star in this league,” Wall said. “I still think I’m a big-time player in this league. In the last two years, there’s a lot of talent that came into this league, and there’s a lot of guys that are still in this league that were talented before I got injured. But I feel like when I’m healthy, I can go against the best of them.”

Wall’s confidence has gotten him far. It has helped him through tough times. This might be the right attitude for him to take.

That doesn’t mean the rest of us should accept it at face value.

After missing more than two years due to injury, Wall dazzled early this season. But he has since fallen back down to earth.

He’s shooting 45% on 2-pointers and 32% on 3-pointers. His assists (10.1), rebounds (4.8) and steals (1.5) per 100 possessions are all career lows.

It’s a shame Wall’s career was so derailed by injury. But it was. He’s now on the wrong side of 30, unlikely to regain major athleticism.

Wall is holding his own as a starting point guard who has major playmaking responsibilities. That’s not an insignificant accomplishment given his health issues.

We can appreciate that without indulging in a fantasy he’s doing even more.