Former NBA superstar John Wall has finally made it official — he is retiring from professional basketball. He wraps up an illustrious career that now stretches 11 seasons. When the 34-year-old point guard announced his retirement on Aug. 19, 2025, he went out as a champion. That moment capped off an extraordinary journey that began when the then-Washington Wizards drafted him first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft straight out of the University of Kentucky.
Wall spent all but one season of his career with the Wizards. There, he became a household name for his dynamic athleticism and incredible playmaking abilities. It would prove to be one of the finest seasons of his illustrious career. He put up 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game, and he nearly made the All-NBA third team, which would have been deserved. That season would go on to be the crowning achievement of Wall’s career. It led him to be named a five-time All-Star and the 2014 winner of the NBA’s iconic Slam Dunk Contest.
Throughout his time in the league, Wall established himself as an elite defender, earning a place on the All-Defensive Second Team in 2015. He made the Hall’s most significant contributions on defense and offense. This further cemented his legacy as one of the best point guards in his era. Over the course of his career, he averaged 18.7 points and 8.9 assists per game, making him a master at both facilitating and scoring.
So even with all of his honors, Wall consistently struggled throughout his career, largely due to injuries that derailed him in those final years. He’s played in less than 50% of the games each of the last six years. For the last two years, he has been cut off from competition. Aside from his tenure with the Wizards, Wall spent the 2020-21 season with the Houston Rockets and half of the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In announcing his retirement, Wall looked back on his path and suggested that his future would go beyond the game of basketball.
“Today, I’m stepping off of the court, but not away from the game,” – John Wall
With gratitude in mind, he shared a few feelings about his exciting future that awaits even as he acknowledged that basketball will continue to be in his life.
“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,” – John Wall
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