On Aug. 19, NBA legend John Wall publicly announced his retirement from basketball.
For a career that spanned over a decade, Wall established himself as an elite playmaker and a transformative figure for the teams he was a part of.
His departure marks the end of an era, as now, with his retirement, Paul George is the only player who remains from the 2010 NBA Draft class.
Drafted first overall to the Washington Wizards, Wall quickly made a name for himself with his explosive speed, ball-handling, and court vision.
Wall demonstrated that he was here to stay, and this would continue when he was named to the 2011 NBA All-Rookie first team, alongside other future greats like Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins.
Throughout his career, Wall was known for his athleticism, even winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2014.
His quickness and agility allowed him to break down defenses and create scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.
These qualities helped Wall become a multiple-time NBA All-Star and earn NBA All-Defensive second team honors in 2017.
2017 would certainly be a memorable one for Wall, as it was also arguably the best year of his career, averaging 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 10.7 assists.
This success continued into the 2017-18 NBA season, as Wall signed a four-year, $170 million contract extension.
Wall’s influence would help turn Washington into a playoff contender, alongside players Markieff Morris and Kelly Oubre.
Unfortunately, after signing this deal, injuries began to take a toll on Wall’s career.
Achilles issues and other injuries hampered his playing time and effectiveness in the following seasons.
Wall’s bad luck continued when, after ten years in the league, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, along with a 2023 lottery-protected first-round pick, in exchange for Russell Westbrook.
Even after he departed from Houston and made a move to the Los Angeles Clippers, many agreed that Wall was not the same player he once was.
Nevertheless, Wall’s career leaves a lasting impact on the NBA.
His style of play influenced many point guards across the league today, surely inspiring players to come.
