John Wall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
John Wall

Wall with the Washington Wizards in 2019
Free agent
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1990-09-06) September 6, 1990 (age 34) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
High school	Garner (Garner, North Carolina) Word of God (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky (2009–2010)
NBA Draft	2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Pro career	2010–present
Career history
2010–2020	Washington Wizards
2020–2022	Houston Rockets
2022–2023	Los Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
5× NBA All-Star (2014–2018) All-NBA Third Team (2017) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2015) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2011) NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2014) Adolph Rupp Trophy (2010) Consensus first-team All-American (2010) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2010) SEC Player of the Year (2010)

Johnathan Hildred Wall Jr. (born September 6, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. He is famous for playing as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). John grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the very first player picked in the 2010 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards. Before that, he played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats for one year.

As a point guard, John was chosen as an NBA All-Star five times, from 2014 to 2018. He was also named to the All-NBA Team in 2017. Later, he faced many injuries starting in 2019. He missed over two years of playing basketball. In December 2020, he moved to the Houston Rockets. After two seasons, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022. He then returned to the Rockets briefly before becoming a free agent in February 2023.

John Wall's Early Life & Family

John Wall was born on September 6, 1990. His parents were Frances Pulley and John Carroll Wall Sr. When John was one year old, his father faced legal issues. John Sr. passed away from liver cancer when John was nine.

John's mother worked hard at many jobs. She supported John, his sister Cierra, and his half-sister Tonya. Growing up, John sometimes struggled with authority. He occasionally got into fights, especially in middle school. He also had a minor legal issue as a teenager.

John played for two AAU basketball teams. These were Garner Road and then D-One Sports.

High School Basketball Career

John Wall started his high school basketball journey at Garner Magnet High School. This school is in Garner, North Carolina. After his second year, his family moved to Raleigh. There, he repeated his sophomore year at Needham B. Broughton High School.

Even though he tried out very well, John was cut from the team. This was because of his attitude. So, he moved to Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh. At this new school, John worked on improving his attitude. Coach Levi Beckwith helped him learn to be a better teammate.

In the summer of 2007, John was invited to the Reebok All-American Camp. This was a big event in Philadelphia. He showed his skills by scoring 28 points in one game. The opposing team had future NBA player Brandon Jennings.

In 2008, John played in the Elite 24 Hoops Classic. He scored 10 points and shared the MVP award. In 2009, as a senior, he was one of the best high school players. He averaged 19.7 points, 9 assists, and over 8 rebounds.

John led his team to the North Carolina Class 1A state championship. They lost a close game, 56–53. John scored 11 points in that game. He also played in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic. These events showcased top high school talent.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
John Wall PG	Raleigh, North Carolina	Garner Magnet / Word of God	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	May 19, 2009
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 98
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 1 (PG); 2 (national); 1 (school)   Rivals: 1 (PG); 1 (national)
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Basketball Journey

John Wall shooting a free throw at Drew-Goodman League

Many top universities wanted John Wall to play for them. These included the University of Kentucky, Duke University, Georgia Tech, and University of Kansas. On May 19, 2009, John announced he would go to the University of Kentucky.

The NCAA suspended John for his first two games. This was due to travel benefits he received from his coach. In his first game for Kentucky, he scored 27 points. He also had 9 assists in just 28 minutes.

In his official college debut against Miami University, John made the game-winning shot. This helped the #5 ranked Kentucky team win. He finished with 19 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

On December 29, 2009, John set a new Kentucky record. He had 16 assists in a single game against Hartford. This broke the old record of 15 assists. He scored 9 points in that game, which was his first time not scoring double digits in college.

On September 22, 2017, John Wall was honored. He was inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional Basketball Career

John Wall decided to enter the 2010 NBA draft early. He was expected to be the first player chosen. On April 7, 2010, he made his announcement.

Washington Wizards (2010–2020)

Wall warming up before a game

On June 24, 2010, the Washington Wizards picked John Wall as the first overall choice. The next day, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., declared June 25 "John Wall Day."

Becoming an NBA Rookie Star (2010–11)

John was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 23.5 points and 7.8 assists per game. In his third NBA game, he tied a team record with nine steals. He also became only the second player in NBA history to have nine or more assists in his first three games.

On November 10, John achieved his first career triple-double. He had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists. He was the third youngest player to get a triple-double in NBA history. John was also named the 2011 Rookie Game MVP. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Sophomore Season Success (2011–12)

John Wall played and started in all 66 games for the Wizards. This was during the 2011–12 season, which was shorter due to a lockout. He was chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge. He averaged 16.3 points, 8.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Overcoming a Knee Injury (2012–13)

John missed the start of the 2012–13 season because of a knee injury. He returned on January 12, scoring 14 points in a win. On March 22, he scored 24 points and had a career-high 16 assists. This helped the Wizards win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

On March 25, John scored a career-high 47 points. He also had 7 rebounds and 8 assists in a win. He finished the season averaging 18.5 points, 7.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game.

First All-Star & Playoff Games (2013–14)

Wall attempting a free throw

On July 31, 2013, John Wall signed a big five-year contract. It was worth about $80 million. On January 30, 2014, he was chosen for his first 2014 NBA All-Star Game.

During All-Star weekend, he won the Slam Dunk Contest. Fans voted him the "Dunker of the Night." His final dunk was a reverse slam with help from the Wizards' mascot. On March 1, 2014, John had a career-high 16 assists.

John averaged 19.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 4.1 rebounds that season. The Wizards made the playoffs for the first time in six years. They beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round. Then, they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

All-Defensive Team Selection (2014–15)

On December 8, 2014, John had 26 points and a career-high 17 assists. This was in a double-overtime win. He dedicated the win to a young friend who had passed away from cancer. He later gave her family his game gear.

On January 22, 2015, he was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. This was his first time starting in an All-Star game. On April 3, he had a new career-high of 18 assists.

On April 21, he set a Wizards playoff record with 17 assists. The Wizards swept the Toronto Raptors in the first round. However, they lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round.

Working Hard, Missing Playoffs (2015–16)

Wall performing a layup

The Wizards started the 2015–16 season with some wins. But then they had a four-game losing streak. On December 1, John scored a season-high 35 points. He also had 10 assists and 5 steals in a win. This ended the Wizards' losing streak.

On December 21, John had a career-high 19 assists. On December 30, he recorded his seventh straight double-double. He averaged 22.6 points and 11.7 assists in December. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December.

On February 3, he scored a season-high 41 points. Two days later, he got his fourth career triple-double. He had 18 points, a career-high 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. He recorded two more triple-doubles in March.

All-NBA Team Selection (2016–17)

Wall attacking the basket versus the Boston Celtics in 2017.

After knee surgery, John Wall's playing time was limited early in the 2016–17 season. On November 7, he broke Wes Unseld's record for career assists for the Wizards. On December 6, he scored a career-high 52 points. He also had eight assists in that game.

On December 14, John became the Wizards' all-time leader in steals. On January 2, 2017, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. A day later, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December.

On January 6, John had 18 points and a season-high 18 assists. Later that month, he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve. On February 28, he tied his career high with 19 assists. On March 17, he set a new career high with 20 assists.

On April 2, John set a new single-season franchise assists record. He passed Rod Strickland's 1997–98 record. On April 16, John scored a playoff career-high 32 points. This was in Game 1 of their first-round series.

In Game 6 of the series, John scored 42 points. This helped the Wizards win the series. On May 12, he hit a game-winning 3-pointer. This forced a Game 7 in their series against the Boston Celtics. The Wizards lost Game 7, ending their playoff run.

Dealing with Injuries (2017–2020)

On July 26, 2017, John Wall signed a new four-year contract. It was worth $170 million. He missed nine games in late 2017 due to a knee injury. On January 12, 2018, he scored 30 points. He became the youngest player in Wizards history to reach 10,000 career points.

On January 30, 2018, John needed surgery on his left knee. He missed two months of play. He returned on March 31, scoring 15 points and 14 assists. On April 10, he passed 5,000 career assists.

In the playoffs, John helped the Wizards tie their series against the Toronto Raptors. He had 28 points and 14 assists in Game 3. In Game 4, he had 27 points and 14 assists. The Wizards lost the series in six games.

On November 26, 2018, John passed Wes Unseld for third place in franchise scoring. On December 29, he was ruled out for the rest of the season. This was due to a left heel injury. After surgery, he developed an infection. Then, he ruptured his left Achilles tendon after a fall at home. He was expected to miss 12 months.

The 2019–20 NBA season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the season resumed, John did not play. This officially ended his season.

Houston Rockets (2020–2022)

On December 2, 2020, John Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets. On March 22, 2021, John recorded his eighth career triple-double. He had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This helped end the team's 20-game losing streak. On April 26, he was ruled out for the rest of the season. This was due to a hamstring injury.

In the 2021–22 season, John and the Rockets decided he would not play. The team was focusing on developing younger players. On June 28, 2022, John and the Rockets agreed to end his contract.

Los Angeles Clippers (2022–2023)

On July 8, 2022, John Wall signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. He made his debut on October 20. He scored 15 points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

On February 9, 2023, John was traded back to the Houston Rockets. This was part of a three-team trade. He was then released by the Rockets three days later.

National Team Career

In July 2014, John Wall was chosen for the United States team camp roster. He competed for a spot on the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup team. Due to knee surgery, John did not try out for the 2016 Rio Olympics team.

Player Profile & Skills

Wall celebrates victory in 2016

John Wall is known as one of the fastest players in the NBA. His speed was shown in his draft combine results. He had excellent times in agility and sprint drills. Even though he is an average height for a point guard, he has a long wingspan.

John uses his speed to drive to the basket. He also helps his team with fast breaks. He is a very skilled passer. From 2014 to 2017, he averaged over 10 assists per game. His career average is 9.2 assists.

Early in his career, some people criticized John for having too many turnovers. However, he improved his assist-to-turnover ratio over time. John's shooting percentages are generally close to league average. He has improved his shooting throughout his NBA career.

John Wall is ambidextrous, meaning he can use both hands well. He shoots right-handed. He is known for one-handed dunks using his left hand and right leg. This is because he could not jump as high off his left leg.

Personal Life & Interests

Wall signs autographs in 2016

John Wall has two children. His youngest child was born in 2018. In 2018, he shared that he was studying for a bachelor's degree in business administration.

John's mother, Frances Pulley, passed away from breast cancer in December 2019. John has spoken about seeking psychotherapy to help with his mental health. He wrote an essay about this for The Players' Tribune.

Business Ventures & Helping Others

In 2010, John Wall signed a five-year endorsement deal with Reebok. It was worth $25 million. In 2013, he moved to Reebok's parent company Adidas. He signed another five-year deal with Adidas in 2018. In May 2017, John also became a brand ambassador for New Era caps.

In 2013, John bought a large home in Potomac. It cost $4.9 million. The house has eight bedrooms and six garages. It was chosen to have enough space for his mother, siblings, and guests.

In 2016, John received an award for his work to end homelessness. He donated $400,000 to Bright Beginnings. In November 2020, John became a co-owner of the South East Melbourne Phoenix. This is a basketball team in Australia.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Awards and Honors

NBA

• 5× NBA All-Star: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• All-NBA Third Team: 2017
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 2015
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2011

College

• SEC Player of the Year
• All-SEC First Team
• SEC All-Freshman Team
• SEC All-Tournament MVP
• SEC All-Tournament Team
• NABC Division I All-District 21 First Team
• NABC Division I All-America First Team
• USBWA All-America Freshman of the Year
• USBWA All-America First Team
• USBWA All-District IV Player of the Year
• USBWA All-District IV Team
• AP NCAA All-America First Team
• AP NCAA All-America Co-Freshman of the Year
• Sporting News NCAA All-America First Team

See also

In Spanish: John Wall para niños

• John Wall dance
• List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game