After 10 seasons with the Washington Wizards, John Wall is now a member of the Houston Rockets. The Wizards traded Wall and a 2023 first-round pick to Houston for Russell Westbrook. According to reports, Wall wanted out of Washington following leaks of trade talks between the Wizards and Rockets. However, the five-time all-star appeared to dispute the claim.
When asked why he made the decision to leave DC, Wall shook his head in disagreement, making it clear the decision was not his.
“It was never mines,” Wall explained. “My heart and soul was with that organization. The hard work and dedication and sacrifice I made the last two years was with that organization. My whole mindset coming back from Miami from working out in the summer, was to get back to DC and prepare myself for a season. I never thought this would happen.”
Prior to the trade Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard refuted the reports Wall requested a trade.
Nonetheless, Wall is ready to embrace the new chapter in his career. He hasn’t played in an NBA game since December 2018 after undergoing heel surgery and then rupturing his Achilles in a fall at his home a month later.
For two years Wall rehabbed with the intentions of returning to play alongside Bradley Beal with the team that drafted him first overall in 2010. However, the Wizards opted to move in another direction, handing the keys of the franchise to Beal, and acquiring Westbrook in an effort to improve their team.
For 10 years, Wall was the face of the Wizards franchise. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and steals and fourth on the all-time scoring list. He was a pillar in the community and meant a lot to the organization and the city of Washington.
Now, the much-anticipated return of Wall will be in Houston. It may take some time for the emotions and magnitude of the trade to subdue. In his 11th season in the NBA, Wall shifts focus to returning to all-star form playing in a different uniform.
