Kentucky Wildcats congratulate John Wall on retirement: “The reason I wanted to go to UK”

Your favorite player’s favorite player, John Wall, retired from basketball this week, trading in his sneakers for a headset as Amazon Prime’s 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.

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.

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’re 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 — some saying they wouldn’t have been at Kentucky without No. 11.

Check out some of the BBN celebration posts.

DeMarcus Cousins

“At this point, I’m at a new stage of my life at Kentucky, still not confident. I ain’t on no draft boards or no **** like that. At this point, I still don’t know how to be a professional. ****, I don’t really know how to be a collegiate athlete. I’m just going with the flow. I’m learning through trials and tribulations, I still don’t have this person I can call and be like, ‘Hey, how do I need to do this?’

“Who do I learn from? I learn from my roommate, John Wall. I’m looking at how John Wall carries himself. I told him this when we were in Houston, we were having a guys’ night. I said, ‘5, I’ve never told you this story before. I learned from you how to prepare myself for this next level.'”

Julius Randle

“The reason I wanted to go to UK .. hell of a career killa!!”

Karl-Anthony Towns

“A Wildcat GOAT. Enjoy retirement brother!”

Archie Goodwin

“(Shoutout) to (John Wall) on retirement. A Great career and an amazing inspiration to a lot of us out here.”

DeAndre Liggins

“Love you.”

BJ Boston

“The realest!!! Know we locked in forever.”

Jarred Vanderbilt

“Legend. Salute 5.”

Daniel Orton

“It was the best of times. … Yall just gone have to get tired of me posting all these (I don’t care). (John Wall) really had (SportsCenter Top 10) plays every night!”

Otega Oweh

Lamont Butler

“The reason I fell in love with Kentucky. Legend forever.”

John Calipari

“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’t wait to see the impact they have with the rest of their lives!”

John Wall

“LaFamilia always.”

John Wall was one of one — and all of your other favorite Wildcats knew it, too.