It’s no secret that professional sports leagues are full of veterans who despise the younger generation of athletes, so it’s always refreshing to see a handful of experienced players help out the hungry newcomers. John Wall, who is currently a free agent in the NBA, has agreed to take on that mentor/big brother role for Minnesota Timberwolves rookie, Rob Dillingham.
While speaking to Jamal Crawford during the Timberwolves and Pacers’ summer league showdown on Sunday, Wall shared that he has known Dillingham since he was in 7th grade and was more than willing to provide him with the recipe for success as a point guard in today’s NBA. “I told him that transition will be his time to shine”, the 5-time All-Star said. “In the half-court, you have to get everybody else shots during the first 2-3 minutes of the game because they can’t really create their own shots. He’s still trying to figure out when to be aggressive for himself and when to get his teammates involved, so that’s the tough part for somebody transitioning to be a point guard.”
Unsurprisingly, Wall was spot on with his advice for Dillingham, considering that you’ll have far more faith in your teammates in transition if you vow to generate open shots for them when the game is being played at a slower pace. When you have an advantage after a missed basket and discover that you don’t have the cleanest look at the rim/on the perimeter, there’s no better feeling than locating a guy who has already experienced offensive success in the contest (thanks to your brilliant half-court reads). Hopefully, the 8th overall pick in this year’s draft continues to contact Wall for helpful tips as he embarks on a new basketball journey. As it relates to Wall, well, the 33-year-old is adamant about doing whatever it takes to return to the league and prove that he’s still capable of contributing to winning.
