Wizards still haven’t recovered from void of John Wall

The history of NBA basketball in the District of Columbia has been somber for decades. Still, there are respected eras that defined the Washington Wizards/Bullets’ success, such as the Unseld era, the Webber-Howard era, and the “Agent Zero” era. Yet none in recent memory resonated quite like the decade defined by John Wall. When the Washington Wizards traded the former number-one overall pick to the Houston Rockets in December 2020, it wasn’t simply a transaction; it was a soul-cleansing that left the body hollow.

Six years later, as the 2025–26 NBA season proceeds, the Wizards find themselves in a state of perpetual “almost.” They are a team that has spent half a decade trying to find a heartbeat that equals the one they flatlined in 2020. Despite the cycling through of All-Stars, the drafting of high-upside wings, and multiple front-office overhauls, the truth remains: the Washington Wizards have never recovered from the departure of John Wall.

The Cultural Vacuum

The most immediate and lingering effect of Wall’s exit isn’t found in the box score—it’s found in the rafters. John Wall was the “Point God” of D.C., a player who embraced the city’s grit and swagger in a manner few others have. He didn’t just play for the Wizards; he was the Wizards.

Since his departure, the franchise has been beset by a strong identity crisis. For years, the team attempted to transition into the “Bradley Beal Era,” hoping that Beal’s elite scoring would suffice as a foundation. But leadership is more than points per game. Wall brought an edge, a defensive intensity, and a “D.C. against the world” mentality that masked the organization’s deeper flaws. When he was traded for Russell Westbrook, the Wizards traded a franchise icon for a rental. This move signaled the beginning of a transactional culture rather than a developmental one.

The Point Guard Carousel

If you want to see the physical manifestation of the “Wall Void,” look no further than the point guard position. Since 2020, the Wizards have functioned like a revolving door for floor generals.

• Russell Westbrook: Provided a triple-double thrill ride for one season, leading them to a play-in victory before being flipped to the Lakers.
• Spencer Dinwiddie: Got ostracized from the Wizards after struggles with teammates.
• Monte Morris & Tyus Jones: Competent “caretaker” guards who lacked the gravity to shift a defense.
• Jordan Poole: An attempt at a “scoring guard” that has resulted in more memes than wins.

By the start of the 2025 season, the Wizards were still being criticized for having “no true point guard” to develop their young core of Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington. The irony is poignant: the team that once had the most explosive, pure playmaker in the league has spent half a decade unable to find a replacement who can even reliably initiate a half-court set.

The Stagnation of the “Winning” Standard

When Wall was healthy, the Wizards had a floor. Between 2013 and 2018, the expectation was a second-round playoff appearance. They came within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017—a peak the franchise hasn’t sniffed since.

Post-Wall, the “standard” plummeted. The team drifted into the “treadmill of mediocrity,” finishing consistently between the 10th and 12th seeds. This wasn’t just bad luck; it was a structural failure. By holding onto Bradley Beal for too long without a secondary star like Wall to alleviate the pressure, the Wizards stagnated. They weren’t bad enough to get a generational top-three pick (until recently), and they weren’t good enough to matter.

The “Wall-less” Wizards became a team of “good-enough” players—Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija (now gone), and Kristaps Porzingis (also gone)—who produced solid numbers in a vacuum but lacked the connective tissue that a premier point guard provides.

The Emotional Tax on the Fanbase

Perhaps the most “unique” aspect of the Wizards’ failure to recover is the emotional disconnect with the fanbase. John Wall’s departure was unceremonious and, by his own admission, “heartbreaking.” He wanted to be the Dirk Nowitzki or Kobe Bryant of D.C.

When a team trades its heart, it loses the benefit of the doubt with its fans. Attendance and local engagement struggled for years following the trade. Even now, over five years later, as the Wizards undertake a full-scale “reset,” the shadow of the Wall looms large. Fans don’t just want a winning team; they want a team they can believe in. Wall gave them that. The subsequent years of “asset management” and “salary cap flexibility” felt cold and clinical.

The Shadow of John Wall looms inside Capital One Arena.

The Wizards celebrated John Wall during Thursday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Although there is no official word on retiring his jersey, Wall’s celebration is much deserved. However, seeing Wall inside the Capital One Arena was a bittersweet reminder of what’s been missing from the franchise since 2020.

The Wizards didn’t just lose a player in 2020; they lost their engine. Every unsuccessful draft pick that lacked “dog” in them, every “star” trade that didn’t pan out, and every season that ended in April is a direct descendant of that 2020 trade. You can’t simply replace a player who accounted for nearly 50% of your offense through points and assists and 100% of your locker room pulse.

The Verdict: Can They Ever Recover?

Recovery isn’t simply about getting back to 40 wins. It’s about finding a new “Sun” for the solar system to orbit. The Wizards entered the season leaning on 2024 draft picks, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bub Carrington, and this year’s first-rounder, Tre Johnson, to carry the franchise into a new era.

Last month, the team added four-time All-Star Trae Young. Young is expected to fix the point guard void. However, Young has yet to play in a Wizards uniform. He is dealing with an MCL sprain at least through the All-Star break.

Despite being 27 years of age, Young could be just another name to add to the point guard carousel. He’s under contract through the 2026-27 season. There’s a chance he can be trade bait by this time next year without a contract extension.

The onus is on the young core. Until one of them can walk onto the floor at Capital One Arena and make the city feel the way it did when No. 2 did the “Dougie” during player introductions, the Wizards will remain a franchise in recovery. They are a house with a beautiful new paint job, but a foundation that still feels a little bit like it’s waiting for its owner to come home.

Hopefully, the wait isn’t another 20 years, as Robert Horry recently suggested.