John Wall might miss training camp, but could be healthiest in three years
Wizards guard needs to get right and latest surgery could do that
By
Matt Moore
•
2 min read
John Wall had a disappointing year last season. His individual numbers were good under a new, faster-paced system now-fired coach Randy Wittman designed. But his defense fell off a cliff due to exhaustion and the Wizards lazed about in mediocrity before missing the playoffs.
In an interview with The Vertical, Wall revealed that the knee surgery he had this offseason was significant and could impact his training camp availability, but also that he is expected to be pain free for the first time in three years, a pretty startling statement given Wall's performance these last few seasons.
Wall's priority is to get healthy after having procedures on both knees -- the removal of loose particles from his right knee and calcium deposits from his left patella tendon. The left knee surgery, performed by orthopedic surgeon Richard D. Parker, will require several months of recovery and could affect Wall's availability for Brooks' first training camp with the Wizards.
But Wall is in no rush to get back after dealing with discomfort in his left knee in each of the past three seasons. "It's something I feel like I had to do," Wall told the Vertical. "It was painful. You watch a lot in games, I jumped off my right leg, or I jumped off two feet. I never jumped off my left leg. That's the reason I rarely went right, because I had to jump off two feet, because this leg, I couldn't get off of it. ... Dr. Parker told me, 'I don't know how the hell you were able to do it.' [Famed orthopedist] Dr. [James] Andrews told me the same thing: 'You're basically playing on one leg, to be honest with you.' "
Wall considers the upcoming season to be a career "relaunch" because he plans to return without painful restrictions in his left knee. "It's going to be like the first time I'll be really healthy and be myself," Wall told The Vertical. "If you know me, you know I'm a person that's going to attack it like nothing else. I'm taking this challenge on. It's a tough challenge to try to rebuild everything and get stronger. It's a challenge I'm willing to take to come back to be a better player, and come back and try to have the best season I've ever had."
Source: John Wall: 'I've just showed glimpses of what I can be' - Yahoo Sports.
A reminder, Wall has averaged 18.9 points and 9.7 assists per game these past three seasons with 21.4 win shares, a remarkable number. He's led the Wizards to the playoffs twice, and made the second round over the Bulls and Raptors, both higher seeds, before last year's drop-off.
It sounds like Wall will be ready for early season if not training camp. That could be costly considering new coach Scott Brooks and the need to get used to whatever changes Brooks makes to the offense. But if that's the cost of him getting fully healthy for the first time in a long time, it'll be well worth it.
With his return to full health, Wall could be great again, but the Wizards will need more help. They carved out space for a max contract, expecting to be in talks for Kevin Durant, but that now seems like a longshot. It'll be interesting to see what Ernie Grunfeld tries to do this summer and if he can lure a suitable third weapon to go with John Wall and Bradley Beal, who the Wizards are likely to re-sign as a restricted free agent.
