{"id":795305,"date":"2024-01-29T15:06:14","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T20:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?p=795305"},"modified":"2024-03-04T16:29:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T21:29:44","slug":"john-wall-nba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/the-magazine\/30-players-who-defined-slam\/john-wall-nba\/","title":{"rendered":"THE 30 PLAYERS WHO DEFINED SLAM’S 30 YEARS: John Wall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For three decades we’ve covered many amazing basketball characters, but some stand above the rest\u2014not only because of their on-court skills (though those are always relevant), but because of how they influenced and continue to influence basketball culture, and thus influenced SLAM. Meanwhile, SLAM has also changed those players’ lives in various ways, as we’ve documented their careers with classic covers, legendary photos, amazing stories, compelling videos and more. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We compiled a group of individuals (programming note: 30 entries, not 30 people total) who mean something special to SLAM and to our audience. Read the full list here<\/a><\/strong> and order your copy of SLAM 248, where this list was originally published, here.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

John Wall has graced the cover of SLAM as a high schooler, as a college player and as a pro. Oh, and he has a KICKS cover, too. Trying to think of someone else who can say that? There ain\u2019t one. This issue is dedicated to the most influential SLAM guys ever. All-time players, fan favorites, real hoopers. But only John Wall can claim that. (Bragging rights for that fun fact may come on a bit of a technicality, since legends like LeBron and Kobe never played college ball, but still!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An athletic freak able to finish with power or finesse with either hand, Wall has always been a blur\u2014faster while dribbling a basketball than 90 percent of other players in a full sprint without one. In the prime of his career, Wall\u2019s athleticism made him an All-NBA player, but his relentless confidence and never-back-down demeanor made him a fan favorite. At points, he called himself the best two-way point guard in the League and the best shot-blocking PG in history. At a time when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were still going strong, John declared himself and Bradley Beal the best backcourt in the NBA, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of what\u2019s made Wall such a magnetic force in basketball culture since he was a teenager is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. Like when he jumped on the scorer\u2019s table after beating the Celtics in a legendary Eastern Conference Semis Game 6, celebrating with the Wizards\u2019 faithful. Or when he broke down crying in a postgame interview after the tragic passing of 6-year-old cancer patient Miyah, with whom he\u2019d developed a strong bond. Or when he returned to DC years later in a Clippers uniform and proudly screamed out, \u201cThis is my city!\u201d to the arena he called home for five All-Star seasons. Wall has always been unapologetically himself, from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, the eventual No. 1 pick in the 2010 Draft was virtually unheard of outside of North Carolina when he started high school. But after killing local competition at Reebok camps everywhere from Chicago to Philly, we highlighted his play at the \u201908 Elite 24 Game in SLAM 122.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it must be mentioned: John Wall has the GOAT high school mixtape. With over 10 million views and counting, it is four minutes of utterly breathtaking basketball\u2014no-look dimes, ankle-shattering fastbreak spin moves, ferocious finishes at the rim with both hands. No disrespect to the HS mixtapes of Brandon Jennings, Aquille Carr, Seventh Woods or Austin Rivers, but John\u2019s is still the best ever. [Ed. Note: This is Abe\u2019s opinion. We don\u2019t have time to debate this here.<\/em>] In the year 2176, people will still have his mixtape bookmarked. The top comment on YouTube jokes, \u201cImagine having to guard John Wall after a long day of pre-calc and AP gov,\u201d but that\u2019s really how it was for the Class of 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n