National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards Won't Rush John Wall Back From Knee Surgeries

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Washington Wizards guard John Wall underwent double knee surgery this off-season and the team is being cautious with his return.

Knees weren’t invented for playing basketball. The last thing a player wants to hear is, “you have to get surgery on your knees.” It’s a terrifying thought, especially for players who rely on their quickness and explosion.

Washington Wizards guard John Wall, who’s one of the fastest players to ever step foot onto an NBA court, underwent surgery to both of his knees this off-season.

The former first overall pick had trouble with his knees early in his career, so the news that he required surgery this off-season caused some concern.

Wall played through pain, but missed the last few games of this past season with a knee issue. This summer, Wall had “calcific deposits removed in his left patella tendon and underwent an arthroscopic lavage on his right knee to remove loose particles,” according to team officials.

NBA training camp is less than a month away and Wall’s status is still unclear.

With a new head coach in Scott Brooks, the Wizards are going to go through an adjustment period and getting training camp right is imperative for a successful 2016-17 campaign.

Last year, the Wizards focused too much on the offensive side of the floor and essentially forgot about the defense during camp. The team lost their defensive identity and fell out of the playoff picture for the first time in two years.

Brooks, having not coached anyone on the roster prior to arriving to D.C., has to get the team to buy in, even if that means he has to do it without Wall.

Wall’s long-term health is more important than his current status, as it should be.

As the team’s best player, and quite frankly the top leader, the Wizards will do everything they can to ensure that Wall is healthy for the future and not just the beginning of the upcoming season.

Brooks recently sat down with CSN Mid-Atlantic and discussed Wall’s impending return.

“He’s working hard. Every day he’s in the gym, getting his rehab on his body,” coach Scott Brooks told CSN’s Chris Miller Tuesday. “He’s on the court, he’s playing. One-on-one right now.”

“We’re in no rush,” Brooks stated. “We want to make sure that he’s ready. It’s a process. We still have all of training camp. We’ll see. We’re going to keep working, keep pushing him. The one thing about John. He puts the work in.”

Wall has played through more difficult circumstances in the past. In the second round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs, Wall played through a broken hand/wrist. His toughness and work ethic, as Brooks mentioned, shouldn’t be questioned.

However, Wall is one of those players who should be protected from himself.

At 26, Wall seems to understand that having a long career is more important than returning immediately. Early in his career, though, he did seem to rush his return from injuries, causing other issues down the line.

Wall is ahead of the schedule and I would be surprised if he misses much, if any, time. Regardless, the Washington Wizards are being cautious with their star player. Until Wall is completely cleared and ready to go without restrictions, the Wizards should do everything but cover the point guard in bubble wrap.