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John Wall
Free agent
Wall with the Washington Wizards in 2019
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 known for playing as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wall was the very first player chosen in the 2010 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards. This happened after he played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

John Wall was a five-time NBA All-Star from 2014 to 2018. He was also named to the All-NBA Team in 2017. Later in his career, he faced several injuries. He played for the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers. As of July 2025, he is a free agent.

Early Life and Growing Up

John Wall was born on September 6, 1990, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His mother, Frances Pulley, worked very hard. She had multiple jobs to support John and his sisters. John faced some challenges during his childhood. He learned to focus his energy on basketball.

Wall played for two different amateur basketball teams. These were called Garner Road and D-One Sports.

High School Basketball Journey

Wall started his high school basketball career at Garner Magnet High School. After two years, his family moved to Raleigh. He then transferred to Word of God Christian Academy. At this new school, Wall worked on improving his attitude. His coach, Levi Beckwith, helped him a lot.

In the summer of 2007, Wall was invited to the Reebok All-American Camp. This was a very important event for young players. He played very well there. In 2008, Wall also played in the Elite 24 Hoops Classic. He earned co-MVP honors at this event.

As a senior in 2009, Wall was one of the best high school players. He averaged almost 20 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds per game. He led his team to the North Carolina Class 1A state championship. Wall also played in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic. These events showed off his skills to college scouts.

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
John Wall PG	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 Career at Kentucky

John Wall shooting a free throw at Drew-Goodman League

John Wall decided to play college basketball at the University of Kentucky. He announced his decision on May 19, 2009. In his first game for Kentucky, he scored 27 points and had nine assists. This showed his talent right away.

On December 29, 2009, Wall set a new record for Kentucky. He had 16 assists in a single game against Hartford. This broke the old record of 15 assists. In September 2017, Wall was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional Basketball Career

John Wall decided to enter the 2010 NBA draft after one year of college. Many expected him to be the first player chosen. On June 24, 2010, the Washington Wizards picked him as the first overall selection. The next day, the mayor of Washington, D.C., even declared June 25 "John Wall Day."

Starting Strong: Rookie Season (2010–11)

Wall was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged great numbers in points, assists, and steals. In his third NBA game, he tied a team record with nine steals. He also became one of only two players in NBA history to have nine or more assists in his first three games.

On November 10, Wall achieved his first career triple-double. This means he had double-digit numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. He was one of the youngest players ever to do this. Wall was also named the Rookie Game MVP during the 2011 All-Star Weekend. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Sophomore Season (2011–12)

Wall played and started in all 66 games for the Wizards during the 2011–12 season. This season 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 Injuries (2012–13)

Wall missed the start of the 2012–13 season due to a knee injury. He returned in January and helped the Wizards win games. In March, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. On March 25, Wall scored a career-high 47 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished the season averaging 18.5 points and 7.6 assists.

First All-Star and Playoff Appearance (2013–14)

Wall attempting a free throw

In July 2013, Wall signed a five-year contract extension with the Wizards. On January 30, 2014, he was selected for his first 2014 NBA All-Star Game. During the All-Star weekend, he won the Slam Dunk Contest. He was the first player in Washington team history to do so.

Wall averaged 19.3 points and 8.8 assists that season. The Wizards made the playoffs for the first time in six years. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round. However, they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

All-Defensive Team Selection (2014–15)

On December 8, 2014, Wall had 26 points and a career-high 17 assists. He dedicated this win to a young friend who had passed away. 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 set another career-high with 18 assists. In the playoffs, he set a Wizards record with 17 assists in a playoff game. The Wizards swept the Toronto Raptors in the first round. They then lost to the Atlanta Hawks. Wall was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team at the end of the season.

Working Hard (2015–16)

Wall performing a layup

Wall had a strong December in 2015. He averaged 22.6 points and 11.7 assists. He earned NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for December. On February 3, he scored a season-high 41 points against the Golden State Warriors.

He also recorded three triple-doubles during this season. This showed his all-around skills.

All-NBA Selection (2016–17)

Wall attacking the basket versus the Boston Celtics in 2017

After knee surgery, Wall started the 2016–17 season carefully. On November 7, he broke Wes Unseld's team record for career assists. On December 6, he scored a career-high 52 points against the Orlando Magic. On December 14, he became Washington's all-time leader in steals.

Wall was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. On March 17, he set a new career high with 20 assists. On April 2, he set the single-season team record for assists. In the playoffs, Wall scored a playoff career-high 32 points. He also hit a game-winning shot in Game 6 against the Boston Celtics. The Wizards lost in Game 7 of that series.

Dealing with Injuries (2017–2020)

On July 26, 2017, Wall signed a new contract extension with the Wizards. He missed some games in late 2017 due to a knee injury. On January 12, 2018, he became the youngest player in Wizards history to reach 10,000 career points. He had surgery on his left knee and missed two months. He returned in March 2018. In April, he passed 5,000 career assists. The Wizards lost in the first round of the playoffs that year.

In December 2018, Wall was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a heel injury. After surgery, he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at home. This injury kept him out of play for a long time. He did not play during the 2019–20 NBA season.

Houston Rockets (2020–2022)

On December 2, 2020, Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets. On March 22, 2021, he recorded his eighth career triple-double. This helped end the Rockets' 20-game losing streak. He missed the rest of the 2020–21 season due to a hamstring injury.

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

Los Angeles Clippers (2022–2023)

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

On February 9, 2023, Wall was traded back to the Houston Rockets. He was then released by the Rockets a few days later.

National Team Experience

In July 2014, Wall was chosen to be part of the United States team. This team was preparing for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Due to knee surgery, Wall later decided not to play for the 2016 Rio Olympics team.

Player Skills and Style

Wall celebrates victory in 2016

John Wall is known for being one of the fastest players in the NBA. His speed helps him drive to the basket. He is also a very good passer. From 2014 to 2017, he averaged over 10 assists per game. Throughout his career, he has averaged 9.2 assists per game.

Wall's shooting has improved over his career. He is ambidextrous, meaning he can use both hands well. Even though he shoots with his right hand, he often dunks with his left hand.

Personal Life

Wall signs autographs in 2016

John Wall has two children. His mother, Frances Pulley, passed away in December 2019. In August 2022, Wall shared that he had faced very difficult times. He found support from friends and sought help to improve his well-being.

Business and Giving Back

Wall has signed endorsement deals with sports brands like Reebok and Adidas. In May 2017, he also became a brand ambassador for New Era caps. In 2013, Wall bought a home in Potomac. This large home was chosen so his family could live together.

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

Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010–11	Washington	69	64	37.8	.409	.296	.766	4.6	8.3	1.8	.5	16.4
2011–12	Washington	66*	66*	36.2	.423	.071	.789	4.5	8.0	1.4	.9	16.3
2012–13	Washington	49	42	32.7	.441	.267	.804	4.0	7.6	1.3	.8	18.5
2013–14	Washington	82	82*	36.3	.433	.351	.805	4.1	8.8	1.8	.5	19.3
2014–15	Washington	79	79	35.9	.445	.300	.785	4.6	10.0	1.7	.6	17.6
2015–16	Washington	77	77	36.2	.424	.351	.791	4.9	10.2	1.9	.8	19.9
2016–17	Washington	78	78	36.4	.451	.327	.801	4.2	10.7	2.0	.6	23.1
2017–18	Washington	41	41	34.4	.420	.371	.726	3.7	9.6	1.4	1.1	19.4
2018–19	Washington	32	32	34.5	.444	.302	.697	3.6	8.7	1.5	.9	20.7
2020–21	Houston	40	40	32.2	.404	.317	.749	3.2	6.9	1.1	.8	20.6
2022–23	L.A. Clippers	34	3	22.2	.408	.303	.681	2.7	5.2	.8	.4	11.4
Career		647	604	34.9	.430	.322	.776	4.2	8.9	1.6	.7	18.7
All-Star		4	1	21.2	.612	.333	1.000	4.2	4.5	2.2	.0	16.2

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2014	Washington	11	11	38.2	.366	.219	.765	4.0	7.1	1.6	.7	16.3
2015	Washington	7	7	39.0	.391	.176	.846	4.7	11.9*	1.4	1.4	17.4
2017	Washington	13	13	39.0	.452	.344	.839	3.7	10.3	1.7	1.2	27.2
2018	Washington	6	6	39.0	.441	.190	.851	5.7	11.5	2.3	1.3	26.0
Career		37	37	38.8	.419	.267	.822	4.3	9.8	1.7	1.1	21.9

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2009–10	Kentucky	37	37	34.8	.461	.325	.754	4.3	6.5	1.8	.5	16.6

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