Five NBA stars who are poised to return from injuries in the 2022-23 season

John Wall makes his long-awaited return to the NBA

For as lucrative as the last five seasons may have been, these years haven’t treated former All-Star John Wall well on the court. Two complete seasons of his prime were lost and injuries sapped him of at least half a season in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Through all the turmoil, he returns to the game in arguably the best situation of his career as a Los Angeles Clipper.

One of the game’s most talented playmakers, Wall was the epitome of speed and skill during his prime. The 31-year-old averages 9.1 assists per game for his career—second only to Chris Paul for active NBA players. He can toss passes with either hand and observes the court like a hawk surveying from above, biding his time to pounce at gaps in the defense.

Seeing Wall as lead playmaker for a contending team that desperately needs a facilitator is everything that his fans have dreamed of since he entered the league in 2011. Unlike in the past, when he was expected to be the offensive engine of his teams, Wall can score within the flow instead of forcing shots like in years past.

Where Wall stands as a scoring threat is unclear. Though explosiveness was always a big part of his game, he was never reliant on it. Wall’s dribbling package is deep, his mid-range pull-up is clean and he’s an ambidextrous finisher. Should he put it all together playing off two other stars, Wall has a shot to make huge waves across the league this season.