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The NBA announced on Thursday that John Wall has earned All-NBA Third Team honors for the 2016-17 season, after receiving the fifth-most votes among guards in All-NBA voting. Wall appeared on 87 of the 100 All-NBA ballots cast by the media. The only guards who received more votes were James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Isaiah Thomas.
Wall’s first career All-NBA selection comes on the heels of the best statistical performance of his career. He averaged career-highs in points, assists, and free throw attempts per game while increasing his usage rate and true shooting percentage.
On top of that, Wall helped lift the Wizards to a 49-win season, the best mark the franchise has reached since 1979. He also helped the Wizards take the top-seeded Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, while averaging 27.2 points, 10.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Here’s what Wall had to say about his selection, via a team press release:
“It is a great honor to be named to the All-NBA team for the first time. Although this is an individual award, I consider it to be a team accomplishment and a reflection of the success and improvement we had this season. I wouldn’t be in this position without the hard work that my teammates and coaching staff put in on a daily basis and without the constant support and love from my family. On behalf of the team, I would also like to thank our amazing fans for being there for us all season--we all look forward to reaching new levels together for years to come.”
Wall’s selection to an All-NBA team also has important financial ramifications for the Wizards. Thanks to a new stipulation in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Wall is eligible to sign a four year extension that would kick in for the 2019-20 season. The extension could be worth up to $168 million according to Bobby Marks of The Vertical.
However, if Wall and the Wizards don’t come to terms on an extension this summer, Wall would have to make an All-NBA team again next season in order to be eligible for the Designated Player Veteran Extension next summer.