Washington Wizards: John Wall will have plenty to prove in 2020-21

Looking forward to the 2020-21 NBA season, if there’s one player that will have plenty to prove it’s going to be Washington Wizards star John Wall.

After suffering an Achilles injury, John Wall is expected to make his return to the Washington Wizards, hopefully, at the start of the 2020-21 season. What we don’t know, however, is which Wall we’re going to see when he makes his return from injury.

Generally, players returning from Achilles injuries have never been the same. That has been widely documented. The hope is that Wall – along with Kevin Durant – can help buck that trend. When he returns to the floor, Wall will be 30 years old. Normally, a player at that age is in the midst of his prime years in the NBA. Perhaps that will help Wall in his recovery. Maybe it won’t even matter.

Nevertheless, it’s almost been two seasons since we last saw Wall on a basketball floor. It’s easy to forget just how magical he was when he was healthy. Even easier to do so considering he now has what many consider the worst contract in basketball.

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Before his injury during the 2018-19 NBA season, even though he never really seemed 100 percent during that year, Wall was still solid. During that season, in which he played 32 games before being shut down, Wall averaged 21 points, nine assists, and four rebounds per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent shooting from 3-point range. Pretty good numbers overall, even if it was shaping up to be somewhat of a down season for Wall.

During that season, there was an argument to be made that Wall was still a top 5 point guard in the NBA. At the very least, he was certainly a top 10 player at his position. That has somewhat been lost in the time that he’s been away from the game.

Taking it a step further, the last time Wall was completely healthy for an entire season, he put up the best season of his career in 2016-17 – averaging 23 points, 11 assists, four rebounds, and two steals per contest. He shot a career-high 45 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range. He also had a career-best 23.2 Player Efficiency Rating that season. That was also the year the Wizards fell one game short of an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.

The next season, the Wizards took a bit of a step back and backed into the playoffs as the eighth seed and lost to the Toronto Raptors in six games. Wall only played 41 games that season, too.

Then, the next season, Wall only played 32 before the injury that cost him the remainder of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Now, we wait for his return to the floor and wonder which Wall we’re going to get. Before his injury, though, Wall had helped lead the Wizards to the playoffs in four of his last five (healthy) seasons. In three of those, they advanced beyond the first round.

Over the course of his career, many have questioned Wall. Whether it’s his playing shape or his ability to be the best player on a championship team, he’s often been doubted. For a while, it appeared that Wall and the Wizards had answered those questions and were going to emerge as the next threat in the Eastern Conference.

Although, that changed drastically, at least in part, due to injury. Heading into 2020-21, John Wall and the Washington Wizards will be in a familiar place. They’re going to be doubted and counted out almost immediately.

Many have already discounted Wall and his ability to come back from this devastating injury. Just a couple of years ago, he was arguably a top 5 point guard. Now, he’s pretty much forgotten. Wall is going to return with a chip on his shoulder. And the Wizards could, once again, emerge as a dark horse threat in the Eastern Conference.

Most of it, though, will depend on the health of Wall. Before he makes his return, I’m not sure it’s fair to completely give up on him. He was an unworldly talent when healthy. Perhaps we might’ve forgotten that over the last year and a half. John Wall might have the odds stacked against him right now, but it’s not like this is the first time he’s been in this position.