It’s been a rough season for the Washington Wizards, which got off to a brutal start to the year and currently sit at 13-23. The bottom of the Eastern Conference hasn’t been great, though, so Washington is only 4.5 games back of the No. 8 spot and a potential berth in the postseason.
However, some potentially devastating news surfaced on Saturday afternoon that would make the Wizards’ push for a playoff spot exponentially harder. According to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post, Wall met with a foot specialist about potentially getting surgery on a pesky left heel injury. The report was confirmed by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
DEVELOPING: After consulting with a foot specialist, #Wizards five-time all-star John Wall is contemplating surgery. If he does go forward with the procedure he will miss 6 to 8 months, The Post has learned.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) December 29, 2018
Sources: Washington Wizards guard John Wall is considering surgery on his injured left heel, which would sideline him six-to-eight months.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2018
Wall has tried to battle through the pain in his injured heel to help Wizards turn around season, but the pain has become too significant. Wall visited a specialist in Wisconsin today. https://t.co/vtaYyHnRtf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2018
Wizards coach Scott Brooks had already told reporters that Wall was going to see a specialist for the issue, one with which he’s struggled for years, but apparently, things have gotten so bad recently that surgery is now on the table.
Wall has been dealing with this issue for YEARS but it has reached an intolerable state this season.
In spite of playing on a bum left heel, Wall has averaged 20.7 ppg, 8.7 apg and 3.6 rpg. These numbers are comparable to last season, when he made a fifth All-Star team https://t.co/23QoJKnTcP
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) December 29, 2018
According to Charania, Wall is currently leaning towards getting the procedure, but a final decision has not been made, while Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Wall does indeed plan on going the surgical route.
Wall is leaning toward undergoing the season-ending surgery, which was prescribed by specialist today, league sources said. He will make decision final next week. Surgery route will fully heal the bone spurs that have nagged him for years and allow him to perform at full steam. https://t.co/vtaYyHnRtf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2018
Wizards star John Wall is planning to undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel, league sources tell @WindhorstESPN and me. Doctors have recommended that he undergo the surgery soon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 29, 2018
It’s a major decision for Wall and for Washington. On one hand, he is their superstar point guard, and if they are indeed going to make a push for the playoffs, having him on the floor is a gigantic boost. On the other, this has looked like a bit of a lost season for the Wizards, and if Wall going under the knife is the best long-term decision — especially because his four-year contract extension worth more than $169 million starts next year.
