John Wall is opening up about the toughest experiences he’s faced over the past two years … admitting he had suicidal thoughts after dealing with a series of career-altering injuries and trying to cope with losing loved ones in his family.
The new Clippers point guard opened up in a recent interview, where he got candid about some of the things that have been plaguing him mentally as he battled his way back on the court.
“Darkest place I ever been,” Wall said. “At one point in time, I thought about committing suicide. My mom being sick. My mom passing. My grandma passed a year later.”
Wall — who ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2019 — said seeing his mother take her last breath was tough to overcome, especially amid the COVID pandemic.
The former Wizards star expressed the losses of his mother and grandmother weighed heavy on his heart and mind … and not playing basketball had him contemplating ending his life.
Thankfully, John says he was able to overcome his mental demons and get back on the right track — both physically and mentally — with help from therapy.
“Find a therapist,” Wall said. “You know a lot of people think, ‘I don’t need help. I can get it through it at any time.’ But, you got to be true to yourself and find out what’s best for you.
“And I did that.”
Ultimately, Wall thinks the adversity he endured has made him a stronger person, father, and player, and he feels equipped to tackle any problems life throws at him.
“If I can get through this, I can get through anything in life,” Wall said. “I don’t think a lot of people could get through what I went through.”
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.