For John Wall, returning to Washington, DC, for the first time since the Wizards negotiated him with the Houston Rockets brought with him the standard emotions, but it also brought something else: closure.
“I think I talked about it with The Athletic about what I wanted to get off my chest and leave the past in the past,” said Wall after Monday’s 131-119 loss to Wizards. “Other than that, I’m not really talking about being with the Wizards or anything else.”
Wall was referring to an interview he gave before his return game, in which he said he felt there was a lack of honesty and transparency on the part of the Wizards office that took him to Houston in December in exchange for Russell Westbrook.
Wall said his memories of his time in Washington will focus more on his involvement in the community, where he participated in several different programs.
“I did great things that I want to continue doing and I remember doing it, because I was with Miyah [a 6-year-old girl Wall befriended who died of cancer in 2015], Bright Beginnings, my foster school at Ketcham Elementary. Fifth graders know that I have an agreement with them that I want to continue, “he said.” I won the [NBA] Community Assistance Award helping DC
“These are the things I will continue to talk about, but anything with the Wizards or how trade fell or something, that article was the last time I’m going to talk about it. new franchise. “
The Wizards showed a tribute video in the first half recognizing Wall and his 10 years with the franchise, particularly his work in the DC area community. But without fans in the building, it didn’t carry the same kind of weight as a typical comeback game – especially for a fan favorite like Wall – it normally would.
“It was difficult. I played for the fans; I played for the city,” said Wall. “I am an emotional and passionate person. I have been for 10 years. I wanted to see those guys and see them here to support me.
“It was definitely difficult to also want to have my first game in DC with my mom in the stands,” said Wall about his late mother, Frances Pulley. “She was with me for everything and knowing she wasn’t here was difficult. She was probably on line 10, section G – or in the front row, if she was feeling healthy. I didn’t have a chance to have that, but I know that she is watching me and very proud of me in the return I had. But it would have been great to see her there. “
Wall scored 29 points and made 11 assists in 35 minutes, but with key Houston players out (Christian Wood, Victor Oladipo, PJ Tucker and Eric Gordon), the Wizards stepped aside in the second half to give the Rockets their sixth straight loss.
It was the second time Wall played against his former team, which diluted some of the emotions, he said.
“It was really cool. I wasn’t too worried about that. We played it once,” he said. “I think it would have been different if the fans were there, but the fans were not. It was nice to compete and see some of the guys I deal with.
Despite having no fans, Wall said it was nice to see familiar faces in the arena, but he regretted their lack.
“I know some people in this arena today who have supported me since I was a child for 10 years and I haven’t had a chance to see why they were fired because of the pandemic,” said Wall. “I wish them the best. I know that they played an important role in me becoming a boy to an adult man.
“If I have the opportunity when I come back next year and there are fans, I definitely want to take these people to the stands. So I’m looking forward to buying a lot of tickets for people who have sought out and helped me grow to who I am today and let them know that I haven’t forgotten about them. “
Wall had the energy going early, playing an electric first half and punctuating it with a trademark, diving with his left hand that ended with a loud shout. Wall scored 22 of his 29 in the first half, but with the weight of the offensive falling almost entirely on him, the Rockets were unable to keep up with the Wizards’ firepower.
Bradley Beal scored 37 on 14 of 24 shots for Washington, while Westbrook added another triple-double to the books: 16 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists.
“Let’s go. We compete. We protect each other, we push each other,” said Beal of his former teammate Wall. “Even tonight, we’re putting pressure on each other, telling each other to be better, protecting each other. It’s just competitive. That’s just who we are; that’s our nature. I think that’s what kind of pushed us to be who we are, who we both are today, and it’s a beautiful thing.
“So I’m definitely looking forward to competing against him for the rest of my career, however crazy it may seem.”
At several points during the competition, Wall talked and laughed with Beal. The two built a defense bond, growing together and developing their partnership to become All-Star level guards.
“I think he’s hugging him. He’s enjoying it,” said Wall of Beal. “I think he would like to be on the other side of being with me, because of all the hard work and dedication that we have put in the last two years.”
Wall lost all of last season because of a rupture in the Achilles tendon he suffered in February 2019, which left many wondering what kind of player he would be when he returned. It was a determining factor in switching to Westbrook, with Wall’s robust contract and health concerns hanging over his future.
The 30-year-old playmaker once again stood out, averaging 19.5 points and 5.9 assists per game for the Rockets. Asked if he liked to show what he can still do and what he could have done with the magicians, Wall was short and to the point.
“Yes. They see,” he said. “They’ve seen it all season.”