NBA Veteran John Wall Calls It a Career

More than two years since his last appearance on the NBA court, John Wall has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. In a heartfelt video posted on social media, Wall shared his decision, marking the end of an impactful 11-season career.

Drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft, Wall spent the majority of his career with the franchise, playing nine seasons from 2010 to 2019. During his time with the Wizards, he earned All-Star honors five consecutive times from 2013 to 2018 and achieved a remarkable seventh-place finish in MVP voting during the 2016-17 season.

Wall's partnership with fellow star guard Bradley Beal was pivotal, transforming the Wizards into a playoff contender. Together, they led the team to the postseason four times within five seasons from 2014 to 2018, including a standout campaign in 2016-17, which resulted in the franchise’s first division title in 38 years.

However, injuries began to take their toll on Wall starting in the 2017-18 season. Over the subsequent six seasons, he played just 147 games, missing an entire season due to an Achilles injury in 2019-20 and sitting out the entire 2021-22 season. In December 2020, Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of the Russell Westbrook trade.

His first season with the rebuilding Rockets saw him play 40 games before he agreed to a buyout in June 2022. Shortly thereafter, he signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 34 games, primarily coming off the bench. Wall’s tenure with the Clippers included a trade to the Memphis Grizzlies in February 2023, although he was waived before making any appearances for the team.

In a recent appearance on The Draymond Green Show, Wall expressed his belief that he could still play for another year or two and showed interest in remaining involved in basketball post-retirement, potentially through broadcasting or a front office role as a general manager.

With a career average of 18.7 points, 8.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game over 647 games, Wall leaves a lasting legacy. He is also recognized as the all-time leader in assists and steals for the Wizards, recording totals of 5,282 assists and 976 steals throughout his career. The Washington Wizards congratulated their former star on a substantial career and extended their best wishes for his retirement.