With the NBA’s 2019-2020 season in limbo due the coronavirus pandemic, there was speculation that some of the top injured players in the league could return for a possible playoff push if the season resumed. If the season resumes, don’t count on John Wall being one of those high-profile players returning from their injury to conclude the season.
Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard put the thought to rest, saying Wall returning this season is “not feasible,” during a Q&A session on Twitter Thursday.
“The idea of John [Wall] playing this year, as much as I’d love that to happen, it’s just not feasible.”
Wall hasn’t played in an NBA game since December 2018 when he initially had a procedure to help fix an Achilles injury. However, Wall ruptured the injured Achilles a month later in a fall at his home while recovering. He had successful surgery to repair the torn Achilles, but his timetable for recovery has been an estimated around the 2020-2021 season.
Wall had been going through the rehab process relatively well. He has practiced in scrimmages with teammates, the player development staff and G-League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. But it does not appear the progress will see him return earlier than the Wizards initially anticipated.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA shut down all team facilities, thus preventing Wall from simulating the full court intensity he experienced scrimmaging. Thus even if the season resumes, it would be difficult to get him back up to speed in time to join the Wizards.
If this season is able to resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s unclear how the NBA will handle the remaining regular season games. The league could opt to go straight to the playoffs. However, the Wizards sit 5.5 games back of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Bringing Wall back for an abbreviated finish to this season isn’t worth the risk — not for an eighth-place seeding. Additionally, there could be a delay to the start of next season, which would buy Wall more and could reduce the amount of games he may actually miss in an altering start to the season.
“In the back of my mind, I feel pretty good that we’re going to get a five-time All-Star back [next season],” Sheppard added. “John is so excited to get back in front of our fans.”
With Wall still having four years remaining on his supermax deal, the Wizards will take every precaution before allowing the five-time All-Star to get back on the court.
