John Wall: For me, it all happened really fast. In the span of three years, I went from being on top of the world to losing damn near everything I ever cared about. In 2017, I’m jumping up on the announcer’s table in D.C. after forcing Game 7 against Boston, and I’m the king of the city. I’m getting a max extension, thinking I’m a Wizard for life. A year later, I tore my Achilles and lost the only sanctuary I’ve ever known — the game of basketball. I ended up with such a bad infection from the surgeries that I nearly had to have my foot amputated. A year later, I lost my best friend in the whole world, my mom, to breast cancer.
Source: signature.theplayerstribune.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Chris Miller @cmillsnbcs
I’m Still Here | By John Wall. My brotha sharing his story. Hopefully it helps others. A MUST read. signature.theplayerstribune.com/john-wall-nba-… – 11:59 AM
I’m Still Here | By John Wall. My brotha sharing his story. Hopefully it helps others. A MUST read. signature.theplayerstribune.com/john-wall-nba-… – 11:59 AM
John Wall @JohnWall
Let’s be real, this battle ain’t easy… but I’m still here. I hope my story helps somebody. @PlayersTribune
theplayerstribune.com/posts/john-wal… – 11:00 AM
Let’s be real, this battle ain’t easy… but I’m still here. I hope my story helps somebody. @PlayersTribune
theplayerstribune.com/posts/john-wal… – 11:00 AM
More on this storyline
John Wall: And you have to understand, when I say I lost my best friend, I’m not exaggerating. I had two nicknames growing up. “Crazy J,” because I was crazy as hell. Ha. I used to literally do anything the homies dared me to do. They had me jumping off roofs into bushes like it’s Jackass. And then my other nickname was “Momma’s Boy,” and you already know why. My dad had been in jail since I was one, and he died of liver cancer when I was 9 years old. They let him out just to say goodbye. I can still see him in that dope 84 Randy Moss Vikings jersey, the last day I ever got with him. To this day, I don’t even like going to the beach, because that was our first and last trip as a family. My older brother was locked up, too. So my mom was my whole world. She would work three jobs just to keep our lights on. (And some months, those lights were definitely cutting off, if we needed that money for AAU tournaments.) -via signature.theplayerstribune.com / September 22, 2022
John Wall: I was this close to taking my own life. That’s a hard thing to tell the world. But if you can say one thing about me, it’s that I’ve always been real, and that’s not going to change today. I can’t sugarcoat it. The truth is … two years ago, I was in a really dark place and I just couldn’t see a way out. And I know that probably sounds crazy to some people. I already know the kind of comments I’m gonna get. -via signature.theplayerstribune.com / September 22, 2022
John Wall: “Bro, how the hell can you have all that money and be depressed? You’re John Wall.” Listen, I know exactly who I am. I’m a dog. I been knocked down and got up off the canvas 100 times. From a skinny little kid growing up in Section 8 in Raleigh to the No. 1 pick — all the ups and downs and the sh*t I’ve seen? I know exactly who I am, and what I represent, and how many people need to hear this. So I’m not afraid to tell you that I’ve been in a place that was so dark that suicide felt like the only option. -via signature.theplayerstribune.com / September 22, 2022