"Stomping Grounds" – What a Signature Shoe Means to John Wall

The clothes don’t make the man, so do the titles make the player? What makes a great player, anyways? Though the NBA 2014-15 season has just gotten underway, John Wall – star point guard for the Washington Wizards – and his team already look capable of leading their division. Last year, Wall led the Wizards in an unprecedented campaign that saw to the playoff semifinals, where they were ultimately seen off by the Indiana Pacers. The season was certainly refreshing for a large-market team so cruelly upstaged in the past. Although he missed out on the Larry O’Brien trophy, Wall’s career was elevated when adidas honored him with a signature shoe over the summer – the J Wall 1. For Wall, who distinctly still retains his pleasant Southern manners, it was a massively encouraging experience – perhaps evidenced by the Wizards’ strong start to the season. We ventured down to the nation’s capital to speak with Wall about how the shoe has changed his life, background on the design process, and his ambitions for this already story-filled season. Pick up the J Wall 1 online now, then watch the Wizards take on Detroit in their next home game on November 12.

If you’d like to stay up-to-date with all of the latest videos from HYPEBEAST’s YouTube channel, subscribe by clicking on the button below.