Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
John Wall has had a rough last few years.
In addition to the injuries and other circumstances that have sidelined him for 277 out of a possible 390 games since 2017, Wall lost his mom to breast cancer in December 2019 — just before the COVID-19 pandemic — and his grandmother also died in the time after.
He shared how all of the turmoil affected his mental health earlier this month during a garden dedication for his mother at the Salvation Army in his hometown Raleigh, NC.
“Darkest place I’ve ever been in,” Wall said in the interview. “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, me sitting by my mom taking her last breaths wearing the same clothes for three days straight laying on the couch beside her.”
Wall said he found a therapist, and he encouraged people in a similar place to be true to themselves and get the help they need. The interview was incredibly eye-opening, and hopefully his testimony helps other people dealing with tough circumstances.
“I’m looking at all that and I’m like, ‘If I can get through this, I can get through anything in life,'” Wall said.
After being held out of the entire 2021-22 season by the Rockets, Wall joined the Clippers in the offseason and is ready to get back on the hardwood. He’s not the only person going through something, but it’ll be hard not to root for him to have a great season.
More importantly, it sounds like he’s in a much better place mentally, and that’s great to hear.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Good news hoops fans! The NBA is slashing the price for League Pass in 2022-23, meaning keeping up with your favorite teams just became more affordable. The standard package is going all the way down to $99 from $230. And the premium package is also seeing a significant drop.
But that’s not the only benefit of a cheaper League Pass. As my colleague Cole Huff wrote, this is a win for bettors as well.
“In addition to keeping up with the competition, I can’t help but think about this move from a sports betting angle.
Perhaps it wasn’t the NBA’s motive, but more affordable prices will only further grow the number of subscribers. More subscribers mean more engagement, which could mean more participation in gambling, something that the league has continued to push publicly in recent years.
I know I’ll be tuning in to track my NBA futures bets. But even if you’re not a gambling person, the service becoming more affordable is a huge win for fans everywhere.”
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
WNBA Semifinals, Game 2: Seattle Storm (+200) at Las Vegas Aces (-5.5, -250), O/U 169.5, 10 PM ET
Seattle came out the gate in Game 1 and let Vegas know the Storm aren’t to be taken lightly. In Game 2, I think the Aces respond accordingly and cover the 5.5-point spread at home.
Shootaround
— The Houston Rockets’ new uniform is giving everyone Seattle Supersonics vibes, and it’s really confusing.
— Serge Ibaka makes music, and his latest single has streamed more than any active NBA player on Spotify.
— With Patrick Beverley now on the roster, the Lakers plan to play him alongside Russell Westbrook. What could go wrong?
