In 2022, five-time NBA All-Star John Wall shared that he contemplated suicide when he was dealing with a torn Achilles and the deaths of family members amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, he has bravely come forward to share some more details, explaining just how close he came to taking his own life before thinking about his kids.
“If it wasn’t for my two boys, I would’ve killed myself,” he said. “I put a gun to my head twice, and a lot of people that’s close to me and my friends at the time didn’t know. … I wanted to commit suicide, and I was like, ‘Man, if I take myself away from this earth, I’m failin’ my kids. Like, who gonna be there to raise them?'”
Wall emphasized the importance of mental health, a message that everyone can get on board with.
While rehabbing from an Achilles injury, Wall lost his mother and grandmother a year apart from each other. The storm of tragic events in his life came during a period of time that was likely hard enough on its own amid the pandemic. Fortunately, he found a way through.
The suicide and crisis lifeline is always available by dialing 988, a resource that everyone should be aware of.
Wall most recently played in the NBA in the 2022-23 season for the Los Angeles Clippers. He appeared in 34 games for the squad and averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds per contest.
Earlier in his career, he was one of the top guards in the NBA, putting himself on the map with the Washington Wizards. He earned a handful of impressive accolades during his stint with Washington, averaging 19.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game along the way.
It’s unclear if his days in the NBA are over. He’s currently a free agent and hasn’t appeared in a game this season. However, he’s still just 33 years old, which is something that may work in his favor.
Injuries certainly changed the trajectory of his career, but the fact that he’s around to tell his story today is the biggest win of all. Hopefully, his bravery in sharing his journey will inspire others who are struggling to seek help, as being vulnerable is often the strongest thing a person can do.
