In his prime, there was nobody on the court faster than John Wall.
Wall, who could have potentially been the number one pick in 2008 coming out of high school, elected to play at Kentucky for one year, where he won the SEC Player of the Year, and left no doubt that he should be drafted first in 2009. That is precisely what happened when the Washington Wizards grabbed him with that pick.
Wall was the runner-up to Blake Griffin for the 2011 Rookie of the Year, and became the top gun for the Wizards. His speed, explosiveness, and ability to deke past defenders made him a nightmare to guard, and when he wasn’t doing that, his immaculate court vision made him one of the game’s great passers. As impressive as his offense was, he was also outstanding on defense, showcasing a remarkable amount of Steals. Wall was a five-time All-Star, the toast of Washington D.C., but knee issues derailed his momentum. He had surgery on both of his knees in the 2016 off-season, but a year later his left knee gave out on him, and a year after that he tore his left Achilles tendon. Wall was never the same player again.
He played a year in Houston (2020-21) and one with the Los Angeles Clippers (2022-23), but in both seasons, he missed more games than he played due to nagging and new injuries.
As it stands now, Wall’s career feels more like a “what if” than a Hall of Fame one, but any player who had five consecutive All-Star Games and a must-watch presence has a shot at Springfield.
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