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Wall wouldn't even say for certain that Westbrook was the league's second-fastest player. “It's tough man,” said Wall, who was coming off a career-high 47 points Monday against Memphis and finished with 18 points and 12 assists against the Thunder. “There's a couple fast guys in this league. He (Westbrook) is up there, Derrick (Rose) is up there, when he's healthy. Mike Conley's pretty quick. There's a couple guys. Ty Lawson's quick. So there's a lot of guys, but I put myself first.” Oklahoman

Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Mike Conley, Russell Westbrook, Ty Lawson 

Wall was still complimentary of Westbrook, admitting he is at a place in his career where Wall hopes to some day find himself. “We're both young, athletic, fast point guards and that's very rare that you see that in this league,” Wall said. “I'm trying to take the same steps as he's taken, being an All-Star, making the playoffs and that type of thing, so that's what I'm trying to do. Give a lot of credit to how he's working and how he's helping this team.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Russell Westbrook 

There was a time when Westbrook admittedly looked at the player across from him and saw an opportunity, a chance to make his mark even if that meant stepping outside of the team concept and turning the game into a one-on-one battle. “When you're younger, you're trying to find your way and trying to find your swagger in this league,” Westbrook said. “You've got to come out every night and compete, and that's how I thought I could find my way and build an image in this league.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Russell Westbrook 

Jan Vesely: Great win! And my man@John Wall is on fire.. Yeeaaah. Twitter @JanVesely24

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Jan Vesely 

After getting bumped to his backside and sliding on the hardwood, Wall quickly hopped up and circled Thompson’s direction, ignoring teammate Emeka Okafor’s attempts to get him to calm down. Wall had taken a hit to the noggin from Thompson while trying a layup on the previous possession. So as he approached Thompson, Wall shouted, “Go to the basket and I swear to God, I’ll knock your…out.” Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Thompson leaned over and grabbed his shorts. Wall moved closer, towering over Thompson as he nodded and repeatedly shouted, “Go to the basket! Go to the basket!” Thompson tried to turn away, but Wall kept jawing until referee Gary Zielinski sprinted toward Wall and Thompson and – without hesitation or an attempt to diffuse the situation with a warning – went directly to assessing the players with a double technical foul. Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Since Wall had already picked up a technical foul in the first quarter, Zielinski signaled for Wall to leave the court and the Wizards were forced to trudge along without their most important player. Before getting escorted to the locker room, Wall ran over to plead his case to Coach Randy Wittman. Arms folded, Wittman didn’t need to hear an explanation; no matter what led to his heated exchange with Thompson, Wall needed to keep his anger contained. “That’s your second tech, John,” Wittman said before walking away from Wall, flustered. Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Randy Wittman, Klay Thompson 

Wall got more animated, as he waved his arms and kicked out his leg, upset that he had to head to the showers early after collecting the third ejection of his career. “I let the team down,” said Wall, who had a team-high 14 points at the time he got booted. Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

Wall and Thompson were both participants in the Team USA select workouts last summer in Las Vegas, so they weren’t strangers. And asked afterward, Thompson said he understood how those two shoves pushed Wall over the edge. “I would’ve been unhappy, too. But I’m not trying to get kicked out,” Thompson said. “I think he was just frustrated. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, though. I know John. I’ve played with him. In that moment, I understand. You’re frustrated. After you get fouled hard, then the next play you think you get fouled hard again. He’s competitive. He let his emotions get the best of him.” Washington Post

Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Klay Thompson 

“I just got a lot of confidence lately,” said Wall, who got his first win in Staples Center after losing on four previous visits against the Clippers and Lakers. “I got a lot of confidence in my game and my jump shot and I made tough on them because Steve Nash had to go over the top and I was able to find my shooters and the big man. This is the way I’ve got to play. I’m feeling confident and this is all my work in the summer paying off. I give a lot of [credit] to my teammates for believing in me, letting me run the show and helping my team out.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Will the Wizards give John Wall a max contract? According to several persons with knowledge of the situation who talked with CSN Washington, all the signals point to the answer being yes. For the embattled point guard, of course, rewarding him with a max contract is a no-brainer. “If they believe I’m their franchise guy, that I’m the max player that I feel that I am, they’ll do what’s best for them,” Wall told CSN. “I feel like they believe in me. My coaches and my organization believe in me. The owner (Ted Leonsis) and GM (Ernie Grunfeld) believe in me. ... They like what I've been doing lately.” CSNWashington.com

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Wall hasn't had that luxury. He arrived in Washington in the wake of major overhaul as the team was pivoting away from Gilbert Arenas and trading key pieces from what had been a perennial playoff team. Only three players, Trevor Booker, Cartier Martin and Kevin Seraphin, remain from Wall’s rookie season. And factor into that the recent history of the Wizards when it comes to allowing players such as Chris Webber, Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace to leave, blossom and help other franchises become successful. “An organization’s history is leverage,” one NBA agent told CSN Washington. “In negotiations, you use that. Definitely. And this kid has kept his nose clean on top of that." CSNWashington.com

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Wall already has urged Leonsis to keep Webster, who is playing on a one-year, $1.6 million deal. The Wizards, however, don't have a lot of wiggle room under the salary cap. Ariza and Okafor, who account for $22.3 million for 2013-14, could exercise their player-options and leave as free agents. Wall seems certain about his future. "Nah, I don’t plan on it," he said of only signing a one-year deal and testing the market after next season. "I like it here. This is the city where my dad was born and raised. I want to give something back and start it here. I don’t like to follow. I like to lead my own way." CSNWashington.com

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Jessica Camerato: John Wall and LaMarcus Aldridge named #NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week (March 11-17). Twitter @JCameratoNBA

Portland Trail Blazers, John Wall, LaMarcus Aldridge 

The Washington Wizards held Kids Day over the weekend. To help promote Kids Day, they invited De’La, a Wizards Junior Reporter, in to interview some of the Wizards. She asked Martell Webster (“Marty”), Garrett Temple, Cartier Martin and John Wall about their shoe sizes and celebrity crushes. She even got John Wall to do the Dougie, but she had to do it with him. The results were adorable as the Washington players joked around and mostly just made her giggle the entire time. The Big Lead

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Martell Webster, Cartier Martin, Garrett Temple 

The way Martell Webster shrugged his shoulders after his career-best matching seventh 3-pointer in the Wizards' 127 -105 blowout of Phoenix on Saturday harkened back to the prime of Michael Jordan's career. But the swingman's career-high 34 points had John Wall thinking ahead about next year. "I already talked to Ted about that one," Wall said, referring to Wizards owner Ted Leonsis. "That's an easy, hands down question about trying to get [Webster] back here because him being a free agent, there's a lot of people that are going to come after him." Washington Examiner

Washington Wizards, Free Agency, John Wall, Martell Webster 

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall and coach Randy Wittman got in each other's faces. Then, after Wittman momentarily walked away, they got in each other's faces again. Whatever was said during that third-quarter timeout Wednesday night worked. Wall had 23 points and 10 assists, and the Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-93. ESPN.com

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Randy Wittman 

The exchange came as Washington was blowing a 20-point second-half lead, but Wall rallied with eight fourth-quarter points to hold off the Bucks. "Oh, that's coaching. C'mon," Wittman said emphatically. "I love that." ESPN.com

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Randy Wittman 

"Just us being both competitive and being on different pages," Wall said. "But we talked about it, and we did a great job in the fourth quarter of keeping Ilyasova from getting hot." ESPN.com

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Randy Wittman 

Have you started thinking about your contract extension talks yet? John Wall: I haven’t started thinking about that. Really? The deadline isn’t that far away. John Wall: That’s true. Look, I’m just enjoying D.C. This hasn’t been going the way we wanted it to, in terms of winning, but I think we are building something here. Do you feel like you deserve a max contract? That you’re a max guy? John Wall: I feel like I am. I do, definitely. Grantland

Washington Wizards, John Wall