John Wall had trouble sleeping the night before as his heart and mind raced in anticipation of his Houston Rockets debut, a return from a two-year injury delayed another week by an NBA player. mandate due to COVID-19 protocols.
That was 735 days, as Wall pointed out exactly after the Rockets’ 122-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night in Houston, as he last played in an NBA game that counts. He has since undergone surgery to remove the bone in his left heel that has plagued him for years, followed by surgery to repair the Achilles tendon he tore when he recovered from the operation, and has since been traded from the Washington Wizards with a protected round pick for Russell Westbrook.
“It was great, man, just to get out there and have fun,” Wall said after his 22-point, 6-rebound, 9-a-side performance in the win. “When I got between those four lines and as soon as the ball touched my hands to the bouncy ball, I was fine. I was happy to be able to compete with some of the best guys in this league and [demonstrate] that I have the ability to be one of the best point guards in this league. ‘
Wall said he feels physically incredible. He showed the elite speed and explosiveness that were the most important factors in the fact that he made five consecutive All-Star appearances before injuries interrupted his career, and scored six of his eight baskets against the Kings on tackles or layoffs. , including a couple in one man’s quick breaks.
“He looks like he’s back in his All-Star mode,” said Rockets center Christian Wood, with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
“He was extremely aggressive and made plays and came on defensively thereafter,” said Rockets superstar James Harden, who had 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter. “He looked really good, especially since he hadn’t played in two years.”
However, Wall immediately acknowledged that there was also plenty of room for improvement after his Rockets debut. He specifically pointed to his five turnovers and poor 3-point shooting (2-out-8).
“Having 22, 9 and 6 is not bad for my first game in two years,” Wall said. He scored 19.0 points and 9.2 assists during his decade-long stint at the Wizards. “I can pat myself on the back for that, and I know I’ll be even better for the next game.”
Wall is early in the process of developing a relationship with his fellow ball-dominant guard Harden, who missed time in the preseason after his short time related to his request to be traded. Wall had to sit out a week – including the Rockets’ two-game trip – because he was in close contact with rookie Kenyon Martin Jr., who tested positive for the coronavirus that day after clipping at Wall’s apartment .
“They haven’t been together yet, and we’re still trying to figure out – who’s got it and who’s playing the ball,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said of Wall and Harden. “They figure it out on my own with my help. That relationship needs to grow and get better and better.”
Wall offered the match ball to Silas in the locker room to celebrate his first win as head coach, but he admitted he was considering keeping it to himself, given the personal significance of the game.
“His first time being head coach, I think he deserves it,” Wall said. “But I got the chance to keep my jersey. It’s definitely going to be in my trophy room.”