John Wall played 11 NBA seasons after entering the Association as the Washington Wizards’ top pick and No. 1 overall in the 2010 draft.
This Washington Wizards legend has cast his last spell.
Five-time NBA All-Star John Wall announced his retirement on Tuesday, bidding farewell in a video posted to his social media channels. Wall’s eventful career spanned 11 NBA seasons, most of which were spent in the nation’s capital.
“Today, I’m stepping away from the court, but not away from the game,” Wall said in his departure video. “Basketball will always be a part of my life, and new opportunities present themselves. I feel now is the time to walk confidently into my next chapter. Thank you for every cheer, every chapter. Retired but never done. I’m doing it the Wall way.”
Retired but never done. Doing it the #WallWay pic.twitter.com/s1pX9afHfL
— John Wall (@JohnWall) August 19, 2025
Wall burst onto the national scene as a five-star recruit between Garner Magnet High School and Word of God Christian Academy, both in his native North Carolina. Wall was considered a post-graduate and easily the No. 1 prospect in the national 2009 class after show-stopping summer performances made him a national name by the summer of 2008. He attracted NBA attention through a single season at Kentucky, where he partook in the Wildcats’ 35-win, SEC-winning campaign alongside fellow touted freshmen Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins. The Wizards made Wall the top pick in the draft shortly after.
Through nine seasons in Washington, Wall averaged 19 points and 9.2 assists and continues to rank at or near the top of several major statistical categories in the Wizard franchise record books, including eighth in games played (573), fifth in 3-pointers (539), fourth in points (10,879), and first in both assists (5,282) and steals (976).
In Washington, Wall was invited to five NBA All-Star Games and started the 2015 edition in New York. Wall also made it to All-Defensive team that same season, as well as the All-NBA team two years later.
Alas, injuries took their toll on Wall’s storied career, as he never played any more than 41 games over his last four seasons. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in December 2020 and his most recent NBA action came with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023. Wall had expressed interest in an NBA comeback as recently as February, but has now opts for retirement while hinting at sticking around in the game in his video.
With Wall’s retirement, current Philadelphia 76er Paul George is the lone remaining entrant from the 2010 draft the Kentucky alum led off.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
