Agent David Falk, who is best known for representing Michael Jordan throughout the legend’s NBA career, apologized Thursday for ripping Washington Wizards guard John Wall in an article that appeared in The Washington Post Thursday.
Matters began on Sunday when The Post’s Mike Wise wrote a column in which he was supportive of Wall. The theme was that the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick were too great for Wall, and that the young point guard has been playing well since returning from injury this season.
Though Wise was supportive of Wall, his column contained this paragraph expressing a dissenting opinion:
“A prominent NBA agent, whom I’ll save from embarrassment here, told me a year ago the Wizards needed to unload Wall before the rest of the league found out he didn’t have trade value.”
The agent was Falk, who called Wise on Monday to discuss the Wizards and go off on Wall — on the record.
“I’m going to save you from embarrassment,” Falk told Wise. “You guys are in dreamland. Because this team [stinks] so bad you guys want John Wall to be someone he will never be.”
Falk continued to criticize Wall, saying the youngster doesn’t have a feel for the game.
“I’m not down on John Wall,” Falk told the Post. “I just think people want him to be something he’s never going to be. He’s a big tease. He doesn’t have a good enough feel for the game to be an elite player. I don’t think he’ll ever be the player you think he is.”
Falk is also a Washington Wizards season ticket holder but has only been to four games this season because he believes “the team is going nowhere.” He said the only player they have worth keeping is 2012 No. 3 overall draft pick Bradley Beal.
After his criticism of Wall became publicized Thursday, Falk sent a statement to the Post to apologize to Wall and the Wizards. Falk said he should have kept his thoughts private rather than making them public.
“My decision to knowingly allow this discussion to be aired publicly was a mistake. It reflected poor professional judgment.
“Therefore, I want to publicly apologize to both Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld for publicly expressing opinions that better judgment should have kept private.
“I also want to publicly apologize to John Wall. I hope he either ignores my comments completely or tacks them up on his locker and uses them as motivation. Ultimately, whether or not he becomes an elite NBA player will have far more to do with his dedication and commitment than the opinions of critics, professional or amateur.”
You can read the entire apology at The Post.
Falk certainly has a right to express his opinion, but it seems odd that he went so far out of his way to rip Wall. It seems like a bitter fan had come out. He was smart to admit his mistake and to apologize, especially if he wants to continue signing NBA players as clients.
As for his assessment of Wall, well, the kid is still only 22 and has a long career ahead. He’s not the gamechanger that Derrick Rose is, but he seems like more than a capable point guard.
