John Wall receives a video tribute and standing ovation from Wizards fans on D.C. return
WASHINGTON (AP) — John Wall stole the ball and then sank a jumper, and although he was a member of the visiting team now, the fans in Washington still sounded impressed.
So he egged them on a bit by yelling something that he later revealed after the game.
“Still my city,” he said.
all love 💙 pic.twitter.com/zFCamOxUSn
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 11, 2022
Wall scored 13 points in his return to Washington, and Nicolas Batum made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 23.8 seconds remaining to help the Los Angeles Clippers send the Wizards to their sixth straight loss, 114-107 on Saturday night. Paul George scored 36 points for Los Angeles.
The Wizards drafted Wall with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, and he played nine seasons with the team. After missing 2019-20, he was traded to Houston, and he returned to Washington as a member of the Rockets in 2021. But there were no fans for that game because of COVID-19. Wall didn’t play last season either.
With Reggie Jackson out Saturday, the Clippers gave Wall his first start of this season. He received an ovation when he was introduced, and then again during an early timeout when a tribute video was shown.
“This is something I’ve been waiting for for four years,” Wall said. “The first time I got traded, I came back with Houston, it was COVID so you couldn’t be here. Then last year I wasn’t playing. … I’m glad I got the opportunity to appreciate it and be here, and get the love that I think I deserved. I feel like I got my flowers.”
