Team USA FIBA Roster Update 2014: John Wall Says He Was ‘Overlooked’
John Wall failed to make it into the USA Team that will compete in the upcoming 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, and the Washington Wizards point guard believes that he did not get a fair shot during the training camp.
Wall, who was one of the first three players who were cut from the USA Basketball pool, thinks that he was "overlooked" once again after team officials opted to keep fellow point guards Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose.
The 23-year-old point guard, who averaged career-highs 19.3 points and 8.8 assists for the Wizards last season, was frustrated by not making it into the World Cup roster, but he vowed to use it as motivation moving forward.
"Yeah, definitely, always. You want to make every team you try out for. When you don't, it's more motivation for me," Wall said in an interview with CSN Washington. "Not even (against) just those (Team USA point guards), but the NBA, period. I guess I'm overlooked again. I guess I have to prove myself one more time."
When asked if he was given a fair chance during the USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas, Wall had a straight-to-the-point response: "Nah, I don't think so, but it's a part of the game. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to be there and represent my country. I wish them the best of luck and hope they can win gold."
The former Kentucky standout was not included in the original 28-man pool, but got an invitation to join the minicamp after star point guards Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams opted to skip this year's World Cup.
Wall participated in the split-squad scrimmage but did not perform well, finishing scoreless with four turnovers. Several days after the scrimmage, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski decided to let go of Wall along with Wizards teammate Bradley Beal and Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap.
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