John Wall was on top of the world when he signed a $171 million supermax contract with the Washington Wizards in 2017.
However, when the ink dried on one of the biggest contracts in NBA history, Wall’s best years were already behind him, as injuries plagued the rest of his career.
On Tuesday, the former number one overall pick in 2010 officially called it a career.
“Today, I’m stepping off of the court, but not away from the game,” Wall said Tuesday in a social media post.
“Basketball will always be in my life, and new opportunities present themselves. I feel now is the time to walk confidently into my next chapter.”
Wall was never able to capture his All-NBA form after various knee injuries took away his athleticism and play-making ability after 2018.
He never played in more than 41 games following the 2017-2018 season.
After signing the massive contract extension in the summer of 2017, Wall would only appear in 73 more games as a member of the Wizards.
He missed all of the 2019-20 with when he ruptured his left Achilles tendon while at home, and was truly never the same after that.
His decade-long run in D.C. came to an unceremonious end when he was traded to the Houston Rockets in December 2020.
From there, Wall would only play in 40 games in a Rockets uniform, while being paid nearly $127 million. Both sides agreed on a buyout, where he then signed a two-year deal with the Clippers, appearing in only 34 games.
As disappointing as Wall’s career ended, the man still made $276 million in career earnings, while making Washington a consistent playoff contender in the 2010s.
He became a larger than life figure in the District. Wall ended his career in Washington as the all-time leader in assists (5,282) and steals (976) and the team’s fourth all-time leading scorer (10,879 points).
The Wizards themselves put out a social media post thanking Wall for everything and calling him one of the best to don a Wizards jersey.
“One of our franchise all-time greats. The definition of an era. A lasting legacy. A forever Wizard,” the post said.
Wall was a five-time All-Star in D.C. and made third-team All-NBA in 2017. He won the Slam-Dunk contest in 2014 and made an all-defensive team once as well. He did it all during his time in Washington.
Wall and his running mate, Bradley Beal, formed one of the league’s most dynamic backcourts.
Unfortunately, they weren’t quite able to find the postseason success they were hoping for.
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Wall and the Wizards won only three playoff rounds during their time together, and were never able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
The closest they came was in 2017, losing to the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series in the second round.
Wall’s legacy will be measured by more than what he did on the court, or however much money he made during his career. Wall led his community and always gave back when he had the opportunity.
He inspired a generation of hoopers when he was at Kentucky. There’s a reason the Dougie is as popular as it is. Thank Wall for that.
For as great a talent as he was on the court, he was an even better person off of it. And that should be his legacy.