John Wall will miss his second consecutive game when the Washington Wizards host the Charlotte Hornets Saturday. Wall has been dealing with bone spurs in his left heel which have affected his play.
Wall is considering surgery to correct the matter after meeting with a specialist, Dr. Robert Anderson. If he opts for the surgery, he will be out six-to-eight months, effectively ending his season, according to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post.
The news would put the icing on the cake for what’s turned into a disastrous season for the Wizards. Entering Saturday, they are 13-23 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Wall is averaging 20.7 points, 8.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 32 games this season. Respectable numbers, but certainly below his standards. While he is shooting a career-high 50.7 percent on two-point field goals, he is averaging his lowest attempts per game with 12. He is also shooting a dismal 30.2 percent from three, while attempting a career-high 5.3 treys per game.
Those are numbers that appear to be a byproduct of his heel issues. He has been unable to consistently attack opposing defenses off the dribble as he has been accustomed to do. As a result, he has settled for far too many threes, a shot he has struggled with all of his NBA career.
Wall missed 41 games last season with a knee injury that required surgery. If he opts with the foot surgery now, he will end up missing 50 games this season.
Wall is in the final year of a five-year deal worth roughly $84.8 million. However, his four-year super max extension worth $169.3 million is set to start next season that will pay the 28-year old an annual average of $42.3 million.
