Nov 8, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) walks onto the court following a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports.
One of the most exciting NBA players of the mid-2010s is still looking for a chance in the mid-2020s.
Former All-Star point guard John Wall admitted to reporters this week at the G League Winter Showcase that he still wants to return to the NBA. Wall made his broadcasting debut at the annual G League event in Orlando, Fla., over the weekend, but he hasn’t given up hope for a return.
“It would mean the world,” Wall said of maybe getting another chance in the NBA, according to ESPN. “You want to go out on your own terms.” I want to finish it in the way that I desire. If I play my last game, I want to leave the court in my own way.”
Wall also mentioned that he played in last year’s G League Winter Showcase and that he still works out regularly at the University of Miami.
The former Kentucky standout Wall was the first overall choice in the 2010 NBA Draft and went on to make five All-standout teams with the Washington Wizards. Wall was perhaps the league’s most complete all-around point guard during his best, thanks to his speed, athleticism, defense, scoring, and playmaking.
However, Wall was never the same athlete after a 2018 heel injury resulted in recurrent foot infections, and he later tore his Achilles tendon in the same leg during a slip-and-fall at home. When Wall last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022-23, he was an actively negative player who had to rely on his unimpressive jump shot to compensate for his significant loss of athleticism.
It’s unclear which NBA team would benefit from having Wall, at 34, on their roster. But it would be a lovely tale for Wall to get the conclusion he deserves, especially after admitting earlier this year that he had nearly committed suicide due to sadness.