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Class is in session for Washington Wizards point guard John Wall. No, he's not taking defenders to school and breaking their ankles like he normally does. He's actually back in school in the hopes of getting a degree.
Listen to John Wall as he talks about continuing his education, per the Wizards' Twitter account:
“My sister’s the first one to get a degree from my family, I’m trying to be the second one.”
Respect, @JohnWall ✊ pic.twitter.com/UEjuqySrDx
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) August 3, 2019
This is a smart move by the former first overall pick. He doesn't have much to do anyway. Wall's career took a massive hit when he suffered a potentially career-altering ruptured Achilles tendon in February of this year. He's already expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season.
Many stars have fallen victim to a torn Achilles. Most have failed to regain to their previous form prior to the injury. It's possible that Wall may never be the same again once he returns. Thus, taking this time to continue his education helps him have a backup plan, given that his basketball career is in jeopardy at this point.
Fortunately for Wall, he's already financially secure for the long haul. In 2017, he and the Wizards agreed to a four-year, $171 million extension that is set to kick in this 2019-20 season. The deal has a player option in the final year; the 28-year old can opt into it.
Wall's game is predicated on his speed and athleticism. His torn Achilles could completely derail the qualities of his game that made him one of the top point guards over the past few seasons.
Obviously, Washington is on the short end of the stick here. Year 1 of the deal – $38.2 million – is already committed to Wall for the upcoming season. Moreover, Wall's career could go downhill from this point on. Washington will still owe him $132.9 three years after this season, including $47.3 million in his age-32 campaign.
