Five-time NBA All-Star John Wall is calling it a career.
Wall announced his retirement on social media Aug. 19 after 11 NBA seasons with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets.
“Retired but never done,” Wall wrote in an X post. “Doing it the #WallWay.”
“I’ve been chasing the ball since I could barely walk,” Wall said in a video. “Driveways, parks, packed gyms, 5 a.m. workouts. I gave this game everything I had, from Raleigh, to Kentucky, to the league. Every jersey I’ve worn meant more than just wins and stats, it was about representing something bigger.
“And it’s something I couldn’t do without you. To my family, my mom especially, thank you for all your sacrifices. I hope I made you proud. To my teammates, trainers and coaches, thank you for believing in me. And to the fans, you made me feel unstoppable.”
Wall, 34, said he will still be around the game of basketball, but now is the time to “walk confidently into my next chapter.”
A Highly Recruited High School Player, John Wall Committed to Kentucky
Wall, out of Raleigh, North Carolina, was ranked as the No. 1 high school basketball recruit in the 2009 class by Scout Media. Wall was recruited by most top programs including Duke, Kansas and Kentucky. But he announced his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats and former head coach John Calipari.
GettyLEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 22: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards makes an appearance during the second half of the Kentucky Wildcats game against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena on February 22, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
Wall had a phenomenal freshman season with the Wildcats as he averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals, while shooting 46.1% from the field. He earned SEC Player of the Year and was a member of the All-SEC first-team. He also was named the SEC Tournament MVP that season and led Kentucky to an Elite Eight appearance as a No. 1 seed. After one season, he declared for the 2010 NBA Draft.
John Wall Inspired Wizards to Victory for Young Girl With Cancer
Drafted first overall by the Wizards, Wall had a strong rookie campaign in which he averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals and finished second in the league’s Rookie of the Year Award behind former Clippers star Blake Griffin.
In 2014, Wall befriended Miyah Telemaque-Nelson, a 6-year-old girl battling cancer. When Miyah died on Dec. 8, 2014, Wall led the Wizards to a double-overtime win and dedicated the game to Miyah.
“This game was really meant for her. It would’ve been an even tougher day to lose it,” Wall said in an emotional postgame interview. “I just went into a mode where I didn’t want to lose this game.”
GettyORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Brandon Knight #7 of the Detroit Pistons and Team Shaq looks to pass against John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards and Team Chuck during the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge part of the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend at Amway Center on February 24, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
John Wall is One the Washington Wizards All-Time Greats
Wall spent the first nine seasons of his career with Washington. Wall was traded in a 2020 blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets that saw Russell Westbrook sent to the Wizards.
In the later years of his career, Wall dealt with injuries and his production declined while only playing half the games in his final four seasons in the league. In 2022, Wall signed a two-year deal with the Clippers but only played 34 games before being trading back to the Rockets in 2023.
GettyMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 12: Nick Kyrgios (L) and John Wall talk during warm-up prior to the round seven NBL match between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on November 12, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Wall finishes with career averages of 18.7 points, 8.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals, while shooting 32.2% from three. He was a five-time All-Star, a member of the All-NBA Third Team (2017), a member of the NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2015), and won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2014.
Wall leaves the sport as the fourth-highest leading scorer in Wizards history with 10,879 career points and only trails Elvin Hayes (15,551), Bradley Beal (15,391) and Jeff Malone (11,083).
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