Five-time All-Star John Wall retires from NBA after injuries derailed career
In a post on social media, Wall thanked family and fans and said he wants to remain involved in the game. He hasn't played in the NBA since the 2022-23 season, and his longevity and production were interrupted by injuries, especially late in his career.
After spending one season in college at Kentucky where the Wildcats went to the Elite Eight under John Calipari, Wall was the No. 1 overall pick by the Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft, and he zoomed into the league with his blazing speed and explosiveness. He averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 1.8 steals in his rookie season, earning second-team All-Rookie honors.
Wall, the 2014 NBA slam dunk contest champion. was just the player to help usher in the Wizards' rebuild and distance the franchise from the end of the Gilbert Arenas tenure. Wall's dynamic style as a scorer, pick-and-roll ace, passer, defender and fastbreak generator made him a fan favorite in Washington, D.C.
His behind-the-back move with the basketball while racing toward the rim baffled defenders and often resulted in creative, blow-by layups.
By the time Scott Brooks took over as coach of the Wizards in 2016, Washington had turned into one of the better teams in the league. With Bradley Beal, the No. 3 pick in the 2012 draft, the Wizards also had one of the best backcourts in the league.
Washington finished 49-33 in 2016-17 and lost to the Boston Celtics in a seven-game second-round series. That season, Wall averaged 23.1 points, 10.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals and shot 45.1% from the field, 32.7% on 3-pointers and 80.1% on free throws. He made the All-Star team, finished seventh in MVP voting and made his only All-NBA team.
However, the Wizards haven't won a playoff series since, and injuries began to derail Wall's career. After playing in 78 game in 2017-18, he never played in more than 41 games the next five seasons and missed all of the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons.
He played nine seasons for the Wizards who traded him to Houston in 2020. He spent his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In a tribute post on social media, the Wizards called Wall one of the best players in franchise history. He is Washington's all-time leader in assists (5,282) and steals (976) and the team's fourth all-time leading scorer (10,879 points).
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