Washington secure its point guard for NBA rebuilding phase.
John Wall, the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, signed a contract extension with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday that will keep him with the club until 2019.
The deal, reportedly for five years and worth $80 million, would start in the 2014-2015 campaign and keep him from testing the free agent market next year.
“Since drafting John with the first overall pick, we have been impressed with his maturation, hard work and commitment to our franchise,” team owner Ted Leonsis said. “He is the cornerstone of our team and we have clearly expressed our desire to build around him well before making it official by re-signing him.
“We are extremely confident in his leadership abilities and are excited to see the continued improvement of the team.”
The Wizards need all the help they can get after going 29-53 last season. They have not reached the playoffs since 2008 and have won only one playoff series since 1982, that coming in 2005 over Chicago.
“I am both proud and humbled by the belief that the Wizards organization, the fans and my teammates have shown in me since I arrived here three years ago,” said Wall. “I can promise all of them that I will repay that belief by representing the city of Washington and doing everything I can to get this team back where it belongs.”
Wall averaged a career-high 18.5 points and a team-best 7.6 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the field in 49 games last season. he missed the first 33 games of the season due to a left patella injury.
Wall has three-season NBA averages of 16.9 points, 8.0 assists, 4.4 rebound and 1.5 steals in 184 games.
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