The Washington Wizards’ grand hopes for the 2015-16 season were dashed by the start of 2016 as the team quickly fell out of playoff contention and injuries decimated the roster. All-Star guard John Wall appeared in 69 games, but was hampered by a left knee injury that required offseason surgery in May. Wall made his return to the court in Monday’s preseason game against the New York Knicks and according to Candace Buckner of The Washington Post, the game was a solid start for Wall:
Early into his first NBA minutes since April, John Wall wanted to show a bit of his old self. So, he squared up against New York Knicks point guard Brandon Jennings and easily lost him with an evasive dribble. The first move was vintage Wall — the three-time all-star who Coach Scott Brooks believes still has another notch to reach in his career.
However, while attempting his finishing move to get to the rim, Wall stumbled over his own feet. Too fast for a pair of knees that had undergone offseason knee surgery.
On Monday night, Wall tried to find his footing in the Wizards’ 90-88 loss to the New York Knicks. Wall lasted for a little more than a 15-minute run in his preseason debut.
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Though at times Wall showed some rust, he also produced a few highlights after his months-long rehabilitation.
Wall finished with a solid line: eight points (4-of-9 from the fieldl), four assists and three defensive rebounds as Brooks kept him on the floor for roughly eight-minute stretches in the first and second quarters.
“I just want to go out there and play basketball,” Wall said before the game. “If I have an injury and I come back, I don’t think about it. I just go play. When you think about it, you don’t do well.”
Hours before his return, the news left Wall in a playful mood. As the team concluded the morning shootaround, Wall launched basketballs high into the Madison Square Garden seats for the rookies to retrieve, calling it “a little, fun game.” Also, he donned dark sunglasses and expressed faux astonishment about his comeback.
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A joyful Wall contrasted with the caution that had surrounded him for months. Following his procedures, Wall exercised extreme patience when asked about his health, revealing little to nothing. Though the 26-year-old recently returned to full participation in the Wizards’ preseason practices and even played uninterrupted minutes of five-on-five, he would not suggest a timeline for his return. Until now.
“We had it all planned out, after five-on-five and a couple good days at practice,” Wall said. “I’ll play a couple minutes and see how it goes.”
Brooks echoed Wall’s sentiment.
“He’s been going through five-on-five and we’ve been increasing it the last week or so,” Brooks said. “He felt good. He feels good.
“We’re excited about it,” Brooks continued. “He’s been really putting in a lot of great work in and all the work that he’s put in with the staff over the summer, it’s paid off. I think he wants to get out there and play.”
Wall progressed from playing one-on-one against team staffers in the summer to competing full strength against teammates a week ago. After each practice, Wall reported the same positive news: He felt fine.
“The biggest thing I took away,” Brooks said about the practices. “(Wall) made myself and all our coaches a lot better. The guy can play.”
