John Wall injury makes NBA Twitter wince, cry and ask why
Tuesday’s news that John Wall slipped and ruptured his Achilles' tendon, requiring surgery that will keep him away from full basketball activities for another 12 months, was greeted by NBA fans with a mixture of horror, sadness and pity. On a day when Anthony Davis trade rumors figured to dominate the NBA conversation, here was another massive story demanding attention.
Wall, who was supposed to miss six to eight months after foot surgery, will now miss an entire year after surgery and rehab for the Achilles' tendon procedure. When he returns, he may never be his old self again. His team, struggling through a disappointing season, now faces an even more daunting future.
And so after the announcement, NBA Twitter took to alternatively rooting Wall on, pitying the Wizards and laughing at Washington’s bad luck. Wizards fans? They were miserable.
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“You will come back from this stronger than ever,” Kentucky’s men’s basketball account wrote.
“John Wall’s injury is devastating considering the contract, his playing style and his past injury issues,” wrote NBC Sports insider Tom Haberstroh.
“Injuries remain evil,” wrote the New York Times’s Marc Stein.
"It sucks,” said Wall’s close friend DeMarcus Cousins, who talked to Wall on Tuesday morning. “It’s unfortunate. But me knowing John as well as I do, I know he’ll overcome this. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. he’s overcome a lot of hard obstacles in his life, and you can just add this to the list.”
Here’s a look at some of the social media reaction.
Sympathy for Wall
Re: John Wall.
This sucks. This just sucks. Contract, whatever. John Wall’s in a lot of pain and will very likely never be the same and was a genuinely awesome player when healthy. This is horrible and it sucks.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) February 5, 2019DeMarcus Cousins on the John Wall injury news, his early advice about coming back from an Achilles tear (he talked to Wall this morning) pic.twitter.com/yHroUpl3dR
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 5, 2019Re latest rotten John Wall news: "Expected to return to full basketball activity in approximately 12 months from the time of surgery" is not the same as "ready to play in NBA" in 12 mos. Does he miss all, or almost all of NEXT season, too? Feel very bad for Wall & Wiz.
— Thomas Boswell (@ThomasBoswellWP) February 5, 2019Plenty of discussion ahead with regards to Wizards at the deadline or what they do for next season, expectations for Wall going forward.
For now I'll focus on John Wall the person. Brutal injury. Takes him off the court for a long time during what should be his prime. Rough.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 5, 2019Reflections on his contract
John Wall's annual salary over the next four years, starting next season:
2019-20: $38.2 million
2020-21: $41.2 million
2021-22: $44.3 million
2022-23: $47.3 million
yikes.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) February 5, 2019Wow. Had John Wall not signed the big extension with the Wizards, and instead opted to wait to test free agency this summer, he'd have received a small contract like DeMarcus Cousins did in 2018. This risk is why most agents push their clients to take the money when it's offered. https://t.co/XqLB7vXz5a
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 5, 2019When John signed his supermax, I asked why he didn't wait a year to possibly add an extra $50 million to the back end of the deal. Told me, “I only made All-NBA this year. All-NBA is not guaranteed. You never know what can happen. I never wanted to chance it, so I was like, why?”
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 5, 2019John Wall is the argument for accepting rich, long term deals when they are offered. Wall’s latest injury puts the Wizards in an impossible position—but Wall, whose four-year, $170 million extension kicks in next year—is set for life.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 5, 2019Thoughts about what’s next for Washington
John Wall’s injury is devastating considering the contract, his playing style and his past injury issues. That said, I’m told it won’t have a major impact on team’s goal at the trade deadline. Stay the course, get under luxury tax is still priority.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) February 5, 2019First order of business for Washington is discussing a possible extension for Tomas Satoransky. The point guard is eligible up until June 30 to sign a four-year $47M extension. Satoransky will become a restricted free agent if he’s not extended.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2019Pure sadness and agony
The John Wall in DC story is going to somehow end up being more depressing than the Gilbert Arenas in DC story, how the hell is that even possible?
— David Malitz (@malitzd) February 5, 2019If John Wall misses all of next season, then he'll be 30 years old the next time he plays a game for the Wizards.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 5, 2019Slipped and fell and RUPTURED HIS ACHILLES.
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) February 5, 2019I could also do without the constant reminders of his salary in discussing this news, because it’d be just as sad, if not sadder, without that.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 5, 2019I love John Wall. He is a likable dude who has done a ton for this community. This injury setback sucks. Awful to say, that player from a couple years ago is never walking through that door again. Sucks.
— danny rouhier (@funnydanny) February 5, 2019Smiling through the pain
Read more from The Post:
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