Ever since Spike Lee (as Mars Blackmon) proclaimed “It’s gotta be the shoes” in an Air Jordan ad back in 1988, basketball fans have been obsessed with basketball shoes. What shoes a player plays in are just as big of the game. It’s a culture. It’s why signature shoe deals exist. It’s why sneakerheads exist. Recently, Washington Wizards point guard re-signed with adidas after leaving the company two years prior.
On Dec. 29, Wall played in a game against the Houston Rockets with his first adidas signature shoe, the J Wall 1. Upon the sight, came the news he was re-signing with the brand after being a sneaker free agent for two seasons.
Since dawning the J Wall 1’s, Wall has been exclusively wearing the “Three Stripes” brand, as he inked a five-year deal shortly afterwards. And while it coincides with him returning to full strength following a knee injury suffered in November, the results are very positive with the sneaker switch.
Wall appears to be in mid-season form. Despite Monday’s loss to Milwaukee, the four-time all-star has been magnificent in the nine games in adidas shoes.
Wall is averaging 24.3 points, 10.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks. He is a plus-53 over that period. In his previous 24 games, Wall was averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block. His average plus-minus rating improved from a plus-4.4 to plus-5.9
His overall shooting has improved as well. In his 24 previous games, Wall shot 41.2 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from three, 70.1 percent from the free throw line, and a 50.3 true shooting percentage. Since Dec. 29 and the shoe change, he is shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from three, 75.4 percent from the free throw line and a 53.3 true shooting percentage. Even Wa
It’s gotta be the shoes, right?
Well, the brand reunion certainly has not hurt his game so far. The Wizards will take just about anything that is helping their leader get back to his dominating ways. Washington is 6-3 since, so from the Wizards perspective, we can think anything we want.
