“It’s a joke to me” : John Wall on being 12th pick for Rising Star Challenge

Tonight the NBA will feature the Rising Star Challenge formerly known as the Rookie-Sophomore challenge. This year’s format won’t match up the rookies against the second year players instead it will be a mix of rookies and sophomores on each team. The twist is that Shaq and Charles Barkley drafted the teams last week, and one of those players is unhappy where he was selected.

John Wall point guard of the Washington Wizards , was the MVP of the Rookie-Sophomore challenge last season as a rookie. Wall finished the game with 22 assists not points. Wall was second in Rookie of the Year in the NBA last season. So you would figure Wall would be one of the top picks in the draft. However, Wall was taken to the 12th pick, when he should have went higher. Wall wasn’t shy about letting everyone know he wasn’t happy about where he was taken.

Here is what Wall told Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

“It’s a joke to me,” said Wall, who is averaging 16.9 points and 7.5 assists in his second season. “If they think there are 11 guys better than me, then that’s their decision. But I know what I think in my mind and all I can do is go out there and play basketball the way I know how to play.”

Shortly after the teams were announced Wall wrote on his twitter page “Motivation!!”.

I agree with Wall he should have been taken a lot higher in this draft. He leads all second year players in assists and is second in points to only Blake Griffin.

Also though, Wall should not get so worked up about this, if this were a real game I think he would have been taken higher but it’s not. Right now Wall just plays for the wrong team so there isn’t a lot of hype out there about him. The Wizards are one of the two worst teams in the NBA. If Wall played in New York or Los Angeles he would be getting a lot more attention right now see Jeremy Lin. Wall had all the attention on him playing at Kentucky but its just the opposite playing with the Wizards.

Wall was the sixth guard taken, behind Kyrie Irving, Jeremy Lin, Ricky Rubio, Paul George and Marshon Brooks. Really George and Brooks ahead of Wall now that doesn’t even make sense.

Now all Wall needs to do is go out and with the MVP again and show why he should have been the first player drafted.

Rosters for the game.

Charles Barkley’s team: DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), MarShon Brooks (New Jersey Nets), John Wall (Washington Wizards), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) and Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs).

Shaquille O’Neal’s team: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jeremy Lin (New York Knicks), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats), Norris Cole (Miami Heat), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Landry Fields (New York Knicks) and Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers).

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Tags: John Wall, Washington Wizards