Last week, John Wall was participating in 3-on-3 scrimmages. Monday, he was impressive while playing in a full-court, contact 4-on-4 scrimmage during Wizards practice.
Wall was on the floor with the Wizards player development staff that included Mystics guard Kristi Toliver and teammate Johnathan Williams.
The six-time All-Star is rehabbing a torn Achilles he suffered last January. He underwent surgery on Feb. 12.
Clips of him dunking and shooting have emerged on social media recently. Monday, his ability to run the floor, dunk off the run, and change directions with the ball were on full display.
Here, Wall was able to change direction finishing the possession off with a step-back jumper.
Wall also ran the floor, going coast-to-coast and finishing with a solid lifting layup.
Wall changes direction, with the crossover dribble off the screen for the one-handed dunk.
Finally, he drains the pull-up before the buzzer.
The change of direction, his ability to lift and run the floor were most impressive than the made buckets or dunk.
Despite the impressive showing, Wall is a ways off from returning the floor. The Wizards don’t expect him to return this season. All chatter suggests they prefer he didn’t even if he physically was able to.
“We’re not going to skip steps, we’re not going to get excited about 3-on-3,” Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard said last week. “Down the road, I think we’ll start to add more players to the court and make it feel more like home, but we’re not in a rush to see John come back unless he’s 100 percent healthy.”
John Wall will have to overcome the limitations an Achilles injury has with lateral quickness, specifically while on defense. Still having seeing him move on offense the way he did Monday is encouraging. He last played an NBA game on Dec. 26, 2018.
If up to the Wizards, Wall has another ninth months before he can rejoin the team and get in real game action.
