Barring any shocking developments between now and June 24, the Washington Wizards will be drafting Kentucky’s John Wall with the No. 1 pick. Should Wall be scared?
None of Washington’s recent draft picks has emerged as a superstar. And if Wall thought Tennessee or Florida created a hostile environment, wait until he arrives in the city that spews criticism for a living.
Since 2000, the Wizards have made eight first-round picks. Only two are still with the team — Nick Young and JaVale McGee — and neither averages more than 20 minutes or nine points per game. The last time Washington picked in the top 10, the Wizards promptly traded Devin Harris to Dallas in a package for Antawn Jamison. And Washington’s last No. 1 pick was an unmitigated disaster. The Wizards took Kwame Brown straight out of high school in 2001. He never lived up to his hype, averaging only 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his best season with the Wizards. By Brown’s fourth season, he was a locker room pariah and quickly became expendable. Washington booted him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Caron Butler and others.
The Kwame Brown experience has left Wizards fans cynical about overhyped, so-called franchise saviors. When Wall arrives, he will need to earn their respect and adoration — something he won’t be accustomed to doing after receiving nothing but praise and adulation during the past three or four years. Washington is a tough town, filled with people waiting to share a negative opinion. It’s the home of ESPN’s “PTI” program, which features Michael Wilbon, one of the most respected NBA analysts. Co-host Tony Kornhesier is no slouch either, and he’ll have a firsthand look at Wall’s development.
In addition, the Washington media will naturally compare Wall to his counterparts in other sports. Washington Nationals fans are worked up into a frenzy with the first start of star rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg scheduled for tonight. The Washington Capitals have one of the best players in the NHL in Alex Ovechkin. And the Washington Redskins will always be the No. 1 game in town.
Wall will enter a challenging sports environment in which he must excel — as in, at least 20 points, nine assists and a steal or two per game — to even crack the top spot on Washington sports pages. Yes, his early season performances will be big news. But the luster will fade fast, especially because the congressional midterm elections will coincide with the start of the 2010-11 NBA season.
And the most closely watched contests in Washington involve men and women in suits whose home court is several blocks southeast of the Verizon Center.
