"First, a refresher on Wall's resume. The No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft made five all-star teams, one all-NBA third-team (the league expanded to three all-NBA teams in 1989) and an all-defense second-team in his nine seasons with Washington. He is the franchise leader in assists and steals. The Wizards have infamously not won 50 games in a season since 1978-79, but Wall helped get them close with a 49-win campaign in 2016-17."
"Bradley Beal, also a member of that team, could enter similar discussions once he retires (although his tenure as the franchise's best player was more mixed than Wall's). Unseld and Hayes exist on a separate tier. Both were integral parts of the Bullets' 1978 championship run. Unseld won a league MVP in his first season and Hayes made 12 all-star teams (not all with the Bullets)."
"Will Wall join them? It remains unclear. The Wizards declined to comment when asked about Wall's desire to have his jersey retired, according to a team spokesperson. Nobody who played for the franchise after the 1980-81 season has had their number retired. That means Wall would be the first "Wizard" to earn the tribute; Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, Earl Monroe, Phil Chenier and Gus Johnson all played when the franchise was called the Bullets."
John Wall asked for his No. 2 jersey to be raised at Capital One Arena after announcing his NBA retirement. Wall was the No. 1 pick in 2010, made five All-Star teams, earned an All-NBA third-team and an All-Defensive second-team, and leads the franchise in assists and steals. He helped the team to a 49-win season in 2016-17 and delivered a signature go-ahead three in Game 6 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals. The franchise has not retired any numbers for players who played after 1980-81, leaving Wall as a potential first modern-era Wizard honoree.
Read at The Washington Post
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