John Wall’s new coach used to be Kevin Durant’s coach, but the Washington Wizards star knows that doesn’t mean Durant is coming back home.
Wall says his excitement over the hiring of Scott Brooks has nothing to do with Durant, because there’s no guarantee Durant will sign with the team this summer. But that doesn’t mean the team won’t try to get him.
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"In my opinion, that’s not why we hired [Brooks]," Wall told The Vertical. "I feel if [Brooks] can make a pitch, and I can make a pitch and [Durant] comes, it’s great. I think we do need another star here, another great player to [get over] that next hump. You need three stars to win this league."
The Wizards are just one of several teams expected to make a run at the four-time scoring champ this summer. Durant hails from the Washington D.C. area.
"If he comes, he comes, if not, got to make other plans," Wall said. "But that’s something I haven’t talked to him about. I’m not willing to right now. He just came off a tough series. I’m trying to give him a couple of weeks, a month off, to think about what he wants to do."
In the meantime, Wall says he’s focused on a career "relaunch" after undergoing surgeries on both knees following the season.
"It’s going to be like the first time I’ll be really healthy and be myself," Wall said. "If you know me, you know I’m a person that’s going to attack it like nothing else. I’m taking this challenge on. It’s a tough challenge to try to rebuild everything and get stronger. It’s a challenge I’m willing to take to come back to be a better player, and come back and try to have the best season I’ve ever had."