LAS VEGAS ā When training camp rolls around and the Los Angeles Clippers prepare for the start of the 2022-23 regular season, there's expected to be a battle on the court. Reggie Jackson and John Wall will be competing for the starting point guard job. The addition of Wall had several Clippers fans uneasy following comments he made about Jackson in the somewhat distant past.
Way back in 2015, Wall attended NBA Summer League and was asked about some of the money that was going around with the new CBA. In his comments, Wall name-dropped Reggie Jackson in what, at least initially, came off as a slight.
āMan, everybody talking about me getting $80 million and you got people getting $85 and $90 million that aināt been an All-Star or anything like that,ā John Wall said during a Wizards Summer League game back in 2015. āI guess they came in at the right time. The new CBA kicked in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in and theyāre good now. Like, Reggie Jackson gets five years, 80. Like, Iām getting the same amount as Reggie Jackson right now.ā
Wall then continued, elaborating on his true feelings regarding the CBA hike.
āI canāt control it. Thatās what happens. But Iām happy for those guys. To see anybody get the opportunity to live their dream out and take care of their family when they can, thatās a blessing. So Iām happy for those guys.ā
Once news of Wall joining the Clippers became true, social media did its thing and brought up the receipts. Fans questioned whether Wall and Jackson would get along, as well as whether Jackson's approval was received ahead of making the move.
John Wall officially signed with the Clippers last Friday. He spoke with members of the media a day later, expressing his excitement for joining the organization. Among the things that Wall discussed were his seven-year old comments as well as his relationship with Reggie Jackson.
ā[Our relationship] has always been good,ā Wall adds. āReggie's been cool since we watched him work out with Paul. We never had a problem about that. We've always been cool. That's way in the past. We even talked about it when it came out. It was just something I said. There's no hard feelings. No love lost between us. We're new teammates, call each other a brotherhood. I know people are going to bring it up and talk about it. There's nothing there.ā
Jackson and Wall were photographed together during a player-organized team workout in Las Vegas. As noted, the two are expected to compete for the starting point guard job. Wall has started 601 of the 613 regular-season games he has played. Reggie Jackson has made 466 career regular-season starts, including 75 games as the Clippers' starting point guard last season.
Wall doesn't anticipate there being anything but competition and a racing mind. At the end of the day, Wall is just excited to be able to take to the court again.
āFor me just Iām just happy to play basketball again,ā John Wall explained. āIām a competitor, I know a lot of people ask me, āAre you mad if you start or not start?' I donāt care. Iām a competitor and I just want an opportunity to go out there and compete for a spot, and if I get it I get it and if I donāt, we know how talented Reggie Jackson is and what heās done for this team and helping these guys out, especially when Kawhi and PG was out, even when they was there, heās a great piece. Whoever gets the spot is great. We all just come here with one goal and trying to win a championship.
āI think itās exciting, man. I get to come back and play, itās not really too much for me to do, just go out there and play my game and Kawhiās coming back so I think itās going to be fun.ā
While the battles will be held behind closed doors, it'll be fun to imagine and hear about who takes the starting point guard spot. At the end of the day, of course, none of that really matters. Wall and Jackson both bring unique skill sets to this Clippers team that will help one way or another.
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