As NBA veteran guard John Wall enters his first year with the Los Angeles Clippers, he’s looking for a fresh start after calling the last two-and-a-half years the “darkest place” he’s ever been mentally and revealing he’s had thoughts of suicide.
During an event with the Salvation Army, Wall admitted to having suicidal thoughts recently, stemming from his Achilles injury, the stresses of COVID-19, and the passing of both his mother and his grandmother.
“I thought about committing suicide. Tearing my Achilles, my mom passing, my grandma dying a year later, in the midst of COVID. Me going to chemotherapy, sitting by my mom taking her last breaths wearing the same clothes for 3 days straight.”
John Wall on his last 2-3 years 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Kr01c2lqrb
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 29, 2022
“Darkest place I’ve ever been in,” Wall said of his last two-and-a-half years. “At one point in time, I thought about committing suicide. I mean, just tearing my Achilles, my mom being sick, my mom passing, my grandma passed a year later, all this in the midst of COVID and at the same time, me going to chemotherapy and sitting there, me seeing my mom taking her last breaths wearing the same clothes for three days straight laying on the couch beside her.”
Wall said during the difficult time, he leaned on his family, including his two sons and the mother of his children. He also said he went to therapy, which made a big difference for him.
“I went to find a therapist,” Wall added. “A lot of people think I don’t need help I can get through any times, but you gotta be true to yourself and find out what’s best for you.”
It was a rough stretch for Wall, but now that he’s on the other side of it, he’s grateful.
“For me to be back on top where I want to be and see the fans still want me to play and having support from my hometown,” Wall said. “Their support period means a lot.”
