The three-point finger goggles, unmolested drives to the basket and even a jaw-dropping, 360-degree dunk were all on display this week as John Wall returned to one of his favorite courts and posted a triple-double with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a Kentucky alumni charity game at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
While it is easy to discount the performance because it came during a defense-free exhibition, it shouldn’t be dismissed, given where Wall was this time last year.
When Kentucky Coach John Calipari held the event last September, Wall served as a coach opposite rapper Drake, a curious move for a basketball junkie who can rarely resist any chance to play a competitive game.
Two weeks later, the real reason for Wall’s omission was revealed as the Wizards announced that the former No. 1 overall pick would miss at least eight weeks with a stress injury in his left knee.