After Harden’s exit, John Wall feels like ‘franchise guy’ for Rockets

After Thursday’s blowout win at Memphis, the Houston Rockets at the moment are 9-4 in video games that John Wall has performed on this season. Extra impressively, they’re 7-0 when the five-time All-Star performs with out James Harden.

Wall had 22 factors and eight assists in main the newest victory, which is the seventh by Houston (11-10) in its final eight video games. And in postgame feedback, the ground basic made it clear that he’s starting to take cost of the Rockets — even in simply his first season with the squad.

Right here’s what the 30-year-old, who was traded to Houston in early December from Washington, mentioned in Thursday’s postgame session:

I really feel just like the franchise man, now that James [Harden] has left. You very hardly ever get the chance to be a franchise [guy] in two totally different cities and two totally different groups. … I really feel like that’s my job, to be the chief of this workforce.

I don’t should be the main scorer for our workforce, I don’t should take essentially the most photographs. My job is to ensure everyone is snug, that everyone is enjoying at a excessive stage, and everyone has respect for each other. And that we belief our teaching employees with no matter gameplan they offer us, and so they belief me on the market as being principally the coach on the ground, when I’ve the ball in my palms.

.@JohnWall: “I really feel like I’m the franchise man now that James has left. You very hardly ever get the chance to be a franchise (man) in two totally different cities and two totally different groups..I really feel like that’s my job, to be the chief of this workforce.” #Rockets pic.twitter.com/KUBt8rNSwj

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 5, 2021

Later within the interview session, Wall mentioned he didn’t notably care if he receives an All-Star spot for his contributions this season. As it’s, he says his major focus is on getting the Rockets to the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Led by Wall, Houston returns to motion on Saturday evening with a house sport versus San Antonio. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central. With co-star Christian Wooden likely sidelined for some time with an ankle harm, contributions from Wall will solely grow to be extra essential.