Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey are already used to playing on and off the ball, and their size, combined with Wallace's ability to guard up, means that all three guards can share the court. Fortunately, he has the skill set to complement both of them. In Oklahoma City, Wallace will join a stacked backcourt that already includes a flat-out superstar and a 20-year-old passing wizard. League next for 💪 /I7QEwmOnlC- Kentucky Men’s Basketball April 1, 2023 A guy that makes the right play all the time.' Two days later, Daigneault called Wallace 'a pretty unassuming two-way player: he just does winning things, whether it's visible or invisible.' He also said that there is 'a lot of power to the simplicity he plays with.' Seated next to the 19-year-old at the podium for his introductory press conference, Presti said that Wallace's story is a lesson for young players: 'This guy got drafted in the top 10 by just being an incredible team player. Presti praised his off-ball defensive IQ, kick-ahead passes, two-hand contests and willingness to box out, saying that he plays 'no-agenda basketball.' On draft night, Thunder general manager Sam Presti said that Wallace does 'all the hard things about playing basketball, the things that a lot of people just don't want to do or have to push themselves to do,' and he appears to do them naturally. Or the toughness, not letting somebody get by you.' It's the diving on loose balls, it's just getting a piece of the ball. 'And it's not the highlight that you're trying to put out there, it's all the stuff that goes into it. 'When real people watch, they go, 'Dang, that dude is good,'' Lawson said. Or, most of the time at the high school level, Cason owns that guy.' But when two players play against each other - and you can see it when you coach, man - when they go eye to eye, Cason has earned that guy's respect. And that respect doesn't have to be said, doesn't have to be shown. 'He knows deep down, if he can lock you up, take the ball from you, cause you to really struggle offensively, then you respect him.

'It really does matter to him that you respect him,' Lawson said. I wanted to be the one to step up to the challenge and accept the harder task.' This is not the way most kids approach the game, but, to Lawson, it is a pride thing.

I wanted to be a different person on the court. 'And that's something that I wanted to do. 'My dad taught me that there was a will to want to,' Wallace said. I'm telling you guys, he's Jrue Holiday.''įrom a young age, Wallace made defense part of his identity. And he's scoring 16 to 18 but he's doing everything. 'I said, 'This kid is not scoring the most points, and he's the most important player,'' Lawson said.

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