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John Wall announces retirement from NBA

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones08/19/25brianjones_93
John Wall
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

NBA veteran John Wall is calling it a career. On Tuesday, Wall announced his retirement from the NBA after 11 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Washington Wizards, but also spent time with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.

“I gave this game everything I had,” Wall said in a video posted to his social media accounts. “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.

“…Today, I’m stepping off the court and out away from the game. Basketball will always be in my life, and as new opportunities present themselves, I feel now’s the time to walk confidently into my next chapter.”

John Wall, who played college basketball at Kentucky, was selected No. 1 overall by the Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft. He was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2011 and was named an All-Star for the first time in 2014, which is the same year he won the Slam Dunk contest. Wall was named an All-Star for five consecutive seasons (2014-2018), was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 2017 and was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2015.

More on John Wall’s NBA career

In December 2020, Wall was traded to the Rockets after missing most of the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons due to an Achilles tendon injury. During the 2020-21 season, Wall played in 40 games and averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 assists.

Wall missed the 2021-22 season after he and the Rockets reached a mutual decision for him not to play in the early stages of a rebuild. In June 2022, Wall joined the Clippers after reaching a buyout with the Rockets. After playing 34 games with the Clippers, Wall was traded back to the Rockets in February 2023, but he was waived before playing a game.

Wall has not played in an NBA game since the 2023 season. He finished his career with an average of 18.7 points and 8.9 assists per contest.