John Wall is a former NBA All-Star with three passions. One is basketball, which he's done professionally for years, and the other two are his sons, Ace and Amir. He's an athlete, yes, but more than that, he's a Black father.
It was a simple setup, but it was all that was needed. Oliver was four years into a project he designed specifically to shed light on Black fatherhood, and as large a topic as that was to tackle, for the Black Love co-founder, filmmaker, photographer and father himself, the message he was hoping to get across was simple:Oliver took his camera and began snapping photos that allowed viewers into the lives of Black fathers.
Oliver had the same equipment — a staple of his for such shoots — and was set to not only feature another high-profile celebrity, but one who's had extra time to dedicate to being a father in recent months. He's 33 years old, stands 6-foot-3 and has two kids.John Wall braces for a hit from a pillow by his son, Amir, during a play fight on their couch, taken moments before an ambush from both of his sons.
It made sense, especially considering Wall's career as a professional athlete; a competitor of the highest degree himself. Having his sons inherit his competitiveness meant they were likely going to go all-out at anything they did."Sometimes, it gives you chills," Wall said. "Because you see a reflection of yourself."
No matter what the activity, the love between Wall and his two sons was clear. That was Oliver's biggest takeaway from the simple photoshoot. “The narrative is that we walk out on our kids, we end up locked up in jail, or we end up dead," Wall said exclusively to Spurs On SI. "Sometimes, that’s what happens and you can’t control that, but a lot of times, we put those things aside and focus on what really matters."“I said 'Hell yeah',” Wall recounted. "I don’t think you can pass on an opportunity like this. ... but I’m not doing it for the cameras or the image . I’m doing it because our kids need it.
John Carroll Wall Sr. had served previous time for second-degree murder, and his second stint, which began when Wall was 2 years old, was for armed robbery. It wasn't until "years later" that Wall found out those details. Jan 2, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall warms up before a game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
"John lending his family for for a day ... there are people that know him and like him as a basketball player, and that's why they'll start to look at something ," Oliver said. "But then they realize there's a lot more than just the basketball player. There's the person.In every aspect of the word, Oliver and Wall are both proud fathers. One came from a broken family, while the other aims to change the narrative surrounding them.
Wall last played for the LA Clippers during the 2022-23 season, when he appeared in 34 games and started three. As a veteran addition, the point guard was expected to help bring the already-talented Clippers to the playoffs, but was traded back to the Houston Rockets — his suitor before his time in LA — midway through the season before being waived a few days later.
Just like that, Wall is embracing a role model-type niche again. Both for his kids watching him stick so tightly to his routine, and for any younger potential teammates. But despite not having a job in the league, if you asked Wall whether or not he regrets training and hoping for a chance, he'd say no.“I say it all the time,” Wall explained. “If you take the money away, I’d still do the same stuff. I’d still workout two or three times a day. … I just love the grind.
It wasn't any surprise that any meeting between the two sqauds was set to be a good one, but not many expected the true battle both the Spurs and Wizards engaged in. It took all four quarters and two extra periods of overtime to finally determine a winner, but despite Wall's team-high 29 points and nine rebounds, San Antonio was the one to emerge victorious.
The veteran coach was right. A few days later, Wall was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and brought in some extra hardware after winning the Slam Dunk Contest. For Wall, it was the start of a string of decorated seasons, but no matter how much he did, there was one honor he didn't receive that he felt he should have.
That was Wall's first true exposure to the coach in a learning environment, and despite only getting a short time with him, the All-Star had nothing but positive things to say about Popovich and his coaching style.best," Wall said. “He instills things in you. Makes you work. … He doesn’t come in and sugarcoat it, and just look at all of the great players ."
Leonard became who he was with San Antonio before asking out in a move that's since villainized him among Spurs fans, and Wall credits that to the Spurs' system and its similarity to another popular — for its own fans, anyway — sports dynasty. “He’s going to be one of those future stars," Wall added. "I can pressure the basketball more because I know he’s back there blocking shots for me and making the job easier. And being under Gregg Popovich and learning from him. For sure I would take that.”
As John Wall gets shots up, squaring his shoulders and watching for form, Ace will watch. He'll wonder how well he'd fare in similar drills, and he might even imagine himself in his father's shoes.
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