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John Wall is expected to spend another year on the sidelines at minimum, meaning that he'll likely return to the court during the 2020-21 season.
- In late December, the Washington Wizards announced that star point guard John Wall would miss the remainder of the season after undergoing heel surgery to relieve the pain of bone spurs.
- The five-time NBA All-Star developed an infection at the site of his surgery and subsequently ruptured his Achilles tendon after slipping and falling in his home.
- Wall's recovery could be delayed since doctors will need to wait until the swelling from his infection subsides before performing surgery on his torn Achilles.
- Now, Wall's initial 6-8 months of recovery has ballooned into what could amount to two years off the court.
John Wall hasn't seen the court in quite some time, but a series of health calamities may keep him away from the hardwood for far longer than anyone initially anticipated.
Back in December, the Washington Wizards announced that Wall would miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season to undergo heel surgery that would relieve pain from bone spurs. But after the procedure, Wall developed an infection.
Nearly a month into his recovery, the prolific point guard ruptured his Achilles tendon after slipping and falling in his home.
Ideally, Wall would schedule surgery immediately to begin his recovery as soon as possible, but his prior injuries are complicating matters considerably. Doctors will need to wait until the swelling from his infection subsides before performing surgery on his torn Achilles, further delaying an already incredibly drawn-out recovery.
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According to a release from the Wizards, Wall will return to the court 12 months after he undergoes surgery, but when he is ready to go under the knife for the second time in two months remains uncertain.
All in all, Wall is expected to spend, at a minimum, another year on the sidelines, meaning that he'll likely return to the court during the 2020-21 season.
Washington finds itself just three games back from a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but Wall's drawn-out recovery will not bode well for the long-term success of the franchise. The five-time All-Star signed a four year, $171 million supermax deal with the Wizards back in 2017 that is set to kick in next season. That extension will inhibit Washington from adding more talent to their waning squad while dealing Wall - and his commanding salary - away in a trade will be an even tougher sell than it may have been two months ago.
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