The Wizards will reflect on brighter days on Thursday night as they honor five-time All-Star John Wall through a series of events and an on-court celebration during a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The first 15,000 fans at Capital One Arena will receive a Wall bobblehead. Wall-themed videos will adorn the Jumbotron. A “Wall of Fame” pop-up shop will sell his No. 2 jersey.
Memorabilia — like his first pair of game-worn sneakers and the scorer’s table that he jumped on after shooting a game-winner against the Boston Celtics during the 2017 playoffs – will be available for photo ops.
At halftime, Wizards owner Ted Leonsis will honor Wall in an on-court ceremony and donate a check to the John Wall Family Foundation.
The Wizards’ practice facility was uncharacteristically busy on Wednesday, with dozens of cameras preparing to give Wall his homecoming.
Discussions of Wall’s time in the District start with his on-court accolades. The No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft led the Wizards to four postseason appearances. He set franchise records for steals and assists after winning the 2014 Slam Dunk Contest.
But those conversations quickly evolve to include his community work. Wall won the NBA Cares Community Assist Award in 2016 for his back-to-school drives and Thanksgiving meal giveaways. He earned a reputation for taking kids from the District on holiday shopping sprees or hosting terminally ill youngsters on Make-A-Wish visits.
The Wizards set up a website this month for fans to share their favorite Wall memories, which will be featured on the team’s video board during Thursday’s game.
“Hundreds of athletes come to Washington, play the games, collect the checks and can’t name three neighborhoods in the city,” one fan, identified as Mark J., wrote on the Wizards’ site. “John Wall was the first pro athlete who I felt like played for D.C., represented D.C., and ingratiated himself in the culture as if he were a D.C. native. That’s why the love D.C. has for John is limitless.”
Most of the Wizards’ current players were too young to play with Wall, who was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2020. But they still see No. 2 jerseys around the city and hear stories about his accomplishments on and off the court.
“He’s a leader. He puts his heart on the court. His physicality, his athleticism, is always shocking, but his leading ability comes out every night,” Wizards forward Kyshawn George said of Wall. “If you ask someone, ‘Who’s the first Wizards player who comes to mind?’ They usually say John Wall. It’s the impact he had on this team, this organization, this city.”
Current Wizards coach Brian Keefe never shared a locker room with Wall. But Keefe coached against the Kentucky product when he was an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.
“One thing that always stands at the top of mind was his speed, just how athletic. And people forget what a great passer he was,” Keefe said Wednesday. “He was a handful to cover when he was in the league. Really tough to guard.”
The long-time coach didn’t learn the extent of Wall’s community work until he joined the Wizards in 2023, years after the guard’s departure.
“That still resonates here. You still hear about that,” Keefe said. “I know how much impact he had on the community just by being out there with the people and giving his time and resources. Those things stand the test of time.”
But the Wizards still stopped short of bestowing Wall the highest honor of the franchise — a retired jersey. His No. 2 is still eligible to be claimed by another player, though no Wizard has donned the number since Wall left.
Despite his fan-favorite status in the District, Wall fell short in the playoffs. His Wizards peaked with an appearance in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They never truly threatened LeBron James’ Cavaliers or Miami Heat squads in the 2010s.
Even Wizards fans grew less enamored with the former top pick by the end of his tenure. The District’s sports fans voted him as the city’s most overrated player in a survey by The Athletic in 2020. Constant injuries and a hefty $171 million contract added to fans’ frustrations.
The hard feelings have mostly dissipated, but the rafters at Capital One Arena will elude Wall for now.
No Wizards player has had their jersey lifted toward the ceiling of the venue. That honor is reserved for five players from the franchise’s olden days as the Baltimore and Washington Bullets: Earl Monroe, Elvin Hayes, Gus Johnson, Phil Chenier and Wes Unseld.
Three of those five helped the franchise secure its only title in 1978.
The Wizards haven’t won a conference title since 1979. After appearing in the 1979 NBA Finals, the team won just two playoff series in the next 31 seasons.
Then Wall arrived and delivered three postseason series victories in his 10 seasons in the District.
Success is relative. By the Lakers’ standards, the Wall era would be a failure. But for long-suffering Wizards fans, he provided the best basketball memories they’d had in a generation.
The franchise has returned to its losing ways in recent years. The Wizards haven’t posted a winning season since Wall left. With an 11-34 record this season, that trend is unlikely to change.
“People won’t understand why D.C. loves [Wall] so much,” Wizards fan Patrick W. wrote on the team’s Wall-focused webpage. “They say, ‘He didn’t win anything.’ I always reply, ‘You wouldn’t understand unless you were there.’”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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