Washington Wizards: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

1. Will John Wall return as the same player?

The 2010 No. 1 overall selection has been the undisputed face of the Washington Wizards since he was drafted. Ever since he hit the meanest dougie in his first home game, Wizards fans embraced their new star.

But the 2018-19 season brought forth a new chapter in the five-time All-Star’s career. John Wall had dealt with injury woes in the past, like his knee injury at the beginning of the 2012-13 season or another knee problem that kept him out for the second half of the 2017-18 season.

After playing the first 32 games of the 2018-19 season, Wall decided to have surgery on a recurring heel injury and ended his season really early.

Though Wizards fans thought they were done hearing news about the point guard for the season, they were shocked in early February.

News broke that Wall has slipped and fallen in his house and torn his Achilles tendon, which would need surgery and require close to a year to recover. Owner Ted Leonsis said that Wall “probably won’t play next season.”

Wall is clearly the cornerstone of this franchise because the news of his ailment changed the course of the Wizards’ trade deadline and offseason moves as they sunk further and further down the Eastern Conference standings.

The franchise’s fourth ever No. 1 pick may not even see the court next season and it may be for the best. Expectations for the team are low, so making sure he heals fully is very important to the team and to his future.

Should Wall force his way back this season, he may not return as the same player without enough rehabilitation, especially from an Achilles injury which will affect the biggest part of the guard’s game: his athleticism.

However, if he waits until the 2020-21 season, it is more than possible to return from an Achilles injury at full strength. Kobe Bryant famously did so, Dominique Wilkins did it back in the day and Rudy Gay is thriving with the San Antonio Spurs.

Wall can join that group if he puts in the work and takes the time to regain his quickness, agility and speed. His top-notch passing ability will still be there, but so much of his game is dependent on his speed.

The answer the question succinctly, yes Wall can certainly return as the same player despite his major setback, but it may not be during this upcoming season.