John Wall may not make the Hall of Fame, but he was Hall-worthy competitor
Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II to discuss the point guard’s retirement from the NBA after eleven seasons - and while he may not receive an invitation to Springfield, he will be remembered as one of the game’s greats. Hear the full conversation on “Good Word with Goodwill” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
John Wall, when his name rolls off the tongue, it sounds smooth and natural, but it doesn't sound like, man, he's a Hall of Fame player, you know what I mean?
He retired yesterday.
He's joining Amazon.
I looked up the numbers and it really didn't hit me, Marcus.
A five-year stretch from 2013 to 2018, 20 points, 10 assists, two steals.
Do we look at John Wall as a guy that's like, ah man, what could have been if not for injuries?
Or do we look at him as a guy who, maybe with his own limitations, so to speak, playing for the Wizards.
He had the type of career that maybe he should have had.
No, I think, I think he maxed out.
I think we'll look at John Wall as a great NBA player.
And a cut below the elite.
But he was able to battle the elite.
I mean, there's so many.
Ain't no shade in that.
There are so many great players in NBA history who we look at like that, and you're like, Man, if you was there, you know.
You know what I'm saying?
Like he's one of those guys where everybody be talking about this and we're going to be old in the barbershop getting our little gray beards lined up and be like, Hey man, John Wall, who John Wall, who, boy?
If you wasn't in the building, he was in the air.
I feel like he's worthy of that level.
Like he was a great NBA player.
He pushed.
Some of the best NBA players in the league.
He made the Wizards watchable.
Like, you know, but he's dueling with Bradley Beal.
You know what I'm saying?
Like that John Wall, go out there and drop 50, OG.
John Wall is one of them dudes, man, one of them for sure.
We put so much, Marcus, on making the Hall of Fame.
Like you gotta make the Hall of Fame in some ways to be validated.
And I don't think, I think there's almost like an honor, right?
Like there's a wing.
For basketball lore of the guys who didn't make the Hall of Fame, but you ain't want to see them on a Tuesday night.
To me, I get my greatest pleasure from the NBA and always have in that next tier, knowing that, understanding that, to me, that's that's like real hoop right there.
