“Better take him out the game, cause they say that boy insane, when he coming down the lane, trying to catch a bang bang.” – Troop 41
Before John Wall became the most exhilarating player in the history of the Washington Wizards, he had that song.
Troop 41 wrote the epic hip-hop jam, “Do The John Wall,” just as Wall was on his way out of Kentucky for the league.
The Wizards took Wall No. 1 overall in 2010, but he already had his name in pop culture. He was that special.
And with the Wizards, at least as long as his health allowed, he stayed that special.
On Tuesday, Wall announced his retirement from the NBA, ending an incredible journey that could’ve been even better.
Wall spent nine seasons in Washington, with just short stints in Houston and with the Clippers after that.
He averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 assists per game with the Wizards.
In his best season, he put up 23.1 points, 10.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, all career bests in the 2016-17 season.
It’s too bad injuries ruined his career, because there were very few players in the history of the league like Wall.
Much like his contemporary Derrick Rose and the still-hanging-on Russell Westbrook, Wall was a point guard who could dunk on a center’s head.
He was always the fastest player on whatever court he was on. It’s hard to explain just how powerful a Wall fastbreak felt. He was going to make the right decision, and it was either going to end with him scoring ferociously in fast forward speed, or with a teammate getting a sweet dish for a bucket.
He’s not quite a “What if?” in the same vein as some other great basketball talents. Wall was healthy long enough to make five All-Star Teams.
But he still could’ve been so much more if his body didn’t betray him.
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Maybe it was inevitable, given the intense physicality he displayed every night.
But the somber ending doesn’t make the memories disappear.
Wall will always be there in the minds of Wizards’ fans, flying down the lane, “trying to catch a bang bang.”
Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Wall now heads into the next chapter of his life at age 34.
We’ll let Troop 41 get the last word here:
“Coming from the south side, the expectations of us is that we will not rise, and still we prove them wrong. We flexing cause we hot guys. Bring life to the game, we will not die. Ha, yeah, stand tall, yeah you call that the great Wall. All I do is ball, I get up I can take a fall. I’m hungry for the top, call it lunch time, game-winning shot, yeah it’s clutch time.”
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