LA Clippers star John Wall recalls how he almost had his foot amputated due to ailment

John Wall, a former Washington Wizards player, has been open about his battles with ailments, even admitting that an infection nearly caused him to lose his foot.

NBA players are average people like you and me. They may be well-known and millionaires, but they all share the same ambitions, anxieties, and aspirations as the rest of us. John Wall is hardly an exception, either.

Over the past few years, Wall has come under heavy fire and criticism. He got one of the most lucrative contracts in NBA history, but because of numerous serious injuries, he could hardly play.

The former first-overall pick spoke up about all the challenges he’s had since being hurt, but he’s now determined to prove he’s still great and succeed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I am fully aware of who I am, listen. I’m a dog. I’ve been knocked down a hundred times and gotten back up. All the ups and downs and the crap I’ve seen, from a thin young kid growing up in Section 8 in Raleigh to the No. 1 pick? I am completely aware of who I am, what I stand for, and how many people need to hear this. I’m not afraid to admit that I have been in a situation where death seemed like the only option since it was so dark.”

“We’re not even meant to say the word, right? In my town, especially, it’s almost like it’s prohibited. I’ll talk about it, then. For me, everything happened very quickly. I went from being on top of the world to losing pretty much everything I ever cared about in the course of three years. I’m the king of the city in 2017 when I leap up on the announcer’s table in Washington, D.C., after forcing Game 7 against Boston. I’m gaining the maximum extension and believe I’ll always be a wizard. A year later, I tore my Achilles and was forced to give up the only haven I had ever known: basketball. After the procedures, I developed such a severe infection that I almost had to amputate my foot. My mother passed away from breast cancer a year later, and she was my best friend in the world.”

Fortunately, Wall was able to save both his foot and his career, and this is yet another illustration of the importance of thinking things through carefully before passing judgment on someone. Everyone is going through something, and having a million dollars won’t stop you.

 

 

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