{"id":242935,"date":"2025-08-21T08:11:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/242935\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T08:11:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:11:15","slug":"kentucky-wildcats-congratulate-john-wall-on-retirement-the-reason-i-wanted-to-go-to-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/242935\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky Wildcats congratulate John Wall on retirement: “The reason I wanted to go to UK”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your favorite player\u2019s favorite player, John Wall<\/a>, retired from basketball this week, trading in his sneakers for a headset as Amazon Prime\u2019s next analyst for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. If his media career is anything like his playing career, the former Kentucky superstar is sure to do just fine.<\/p>\n

Before then, though, the basketball world made sure to give him the flowers he clearly deserves for changing the game as one of the faces of the sport in the 2010s, an entire generation of hoopers wanting to be just like Wall. Kids wore his shoes and arm sleeves as they tossed in reverse layups and threw down crossover dunks on lowered rims, followed by a back-and-forth flex.<\/p>\n

Many of those kids went on to wear the blue and white just like him, wanting to follow in his lightning-quick footsteps as the next star to come out of Lexington. Whether they\u2019re currently balling in the NBA or focusing on their post-playing careers like Wall, a long list of former Wildcats shared posts congratulating him on retirement \u2014 some saying they wouldn\u2019t have been at Kentucky without No. 11.<\/p>\n

Check out some of the BBN celebration posts.<\/p>\n

DeMarcus Cousins<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, I\u2019m at a new stage of my life at Kentucky, still not confident. I ain\u2019t on no draft boards or no **** like that. At this point, I still don\u2019t know how to be a professional. ****, I don\u2019t really know how to be a collegiate athlete. I\u2019m just going with the flow. I\u2019m learning through trials and tribulations, I still don\u2019t have this person I can call and be like, \u2018Hey, how do I need to do this?\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho do I learn from? I learn from my roommate, John Wall. I\u2019m looking at how John Wall carries himself. I told him this when we were in Houston, we were having a guys\u2019 night. I said, \u20185, I\u2019ve never told you this story before. I learned from you how to prepare myself for this next level.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned from you on how to prepare myself for this next level.\u201d \ud83d\udcaf <\/p>\n

John Wall will ALWAYS have Boogie Cousins\u2019 back \ud83e\udd1d <\/p>\n

Best of luck in retirement @JohnWall<\/a>! \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/N55YwvvwPX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 All the Smoke (@allthesmokeprod) August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Julius Randle<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason I wanted to go to UK .. hell of a career killa!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Karl-Anthony Towns<\/p>\n

\u201cA Wildcat GOAT. Enjoy retirement brother!\u201d<\/p>\n

Archie Goodwin<\/p>\n

\u201c(Shoutout) to (John Wall) on retirement. A Great career and an amazing inspiration to a lot of us out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

S\/O to @JohnWall<\/a> on retirement. A Great career and an amazing inspiration to a lot of us out here\ud83e\udee1\ud83e\udee1.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Archie Goodwin (@archie_goodwin) August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

DeAndre Liggins<\/p>\n

\u201cLove you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BJ Boston<\/p>\n

\u201cThe realest!!! Know we locked in forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jarred Vanderbilt<\/p>\n

\u201cLegend. Salute 5.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Daniel Orton<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the best of times. \u2026 Yall just gone have to get tired of me posting all these (I don\u2019t care). (John Wall) really had (SportsCenter Top 10) plays every night!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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Otega Oweh<\/p>\n

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Lamont Butler<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason I fell in love with Kentucky. Legend forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

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John Calipari<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo of the best point guards and best teammates that I have ever coached. What I am most proud of is the men they have become. I can\u2019t wait to see the impact they have with the rest of their lives!\u201d<\/p>\n

Two of the best point guards and best teammates that I have ever coached. What I am most proud of is the men they have become. I can\u2019t wait to see the impact they have with the rest of their lives! pic.twitter.com\/zzAIkN3j1X<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

John Wall<\/p>\n

\u201cLaFamilia always.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Wall was one of one \u2014 and all of your other favorite Wildcats knew it, too.<\/p>\n