John Wall has reportedly impressed during the Clippers' preseason practices, and he is eager to get back on the court. It's been a while since we saw All-Star John Wall play at a high level after he missed the entirety of the previous season and the entire 2019–20 COVID/bubble season due to a ruptured ACL and a heel infection.
His ruptured Achilles (and associated infections), as well as the passing of his mother, forced him off the court, and sadness took over his life. Before finally seeking help, Wall claims he came dangerously close to killing himself. Wall talked about this in detail in a Players Tribune article.
"I was this close to committing suicide...
For me, everything happened very quickly. I went from being on top of the world to losing pretty much everything I ever cared about in the course of three years. I'm the king of the city in 2017 when I leap up on the announcer's table in Washington, D.C., after forcing Game 7 against Boston. I'm gaining the maximum extension and believe I'll always be a wizard. A year later, I tore my Achilles and was forced to give up the only haven I had ever known: basketball. After the procedures, I developed such a severe infection that I almost had to amputate my foot. A year later, I lost my mother to breast cancer, who was my dearest friend in the entire world.
I then started travelling to places that were extremely dark. My head would be filled with ideas like, "My dearest friend is dead. The game I adore cannot be played. Just now, everyone extended their hand. No one is keeping an eye on me. It always has something tied to it. Who is holding me down right now? What purpose does this place serve?
Wall claimed that for a while, his children prevented him from following through, but even that was almost insufficient. He eventually told his loved ones that he needed assistance. Once they managed to get him in to see a therapist, things began to improve.
The two most well-known NBA players to discuss their difficulties with mental health are DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love. Wall is the most recent in this long line of athletes. It's a step toward eradicating the stigma and encouraging others—athletes and non-athletes alike—to talk about it and get assistance if necessary. A wall moving forward is a significant event.
Additionally, he will have a much louder megaphone to discuss the matter moving forward now that he is back on the floor with the Clippers.
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