- John Wall emphasizes education alongside basketball, urging Filipino kids to stay smart while chasing their hoop dreams.
- Wall begins a new chapter as an NBA analyst with Prime Video, sharing lessons from his own career journey.
- Basketball in the Philippines holds huge potential, and Wall encourages young players to stay focused, disciplined, and keep building skills.
Basketball is more than a sport in the Philippines. From street corners to barangays, the game inspires passion and dreams, and for many, it has been a path to a better life. Players like Marc Pingris, Arwind Santos, Fran Yu, and Rhenz Abando have shown that basketball can open doors, provide opportunities, and give purpose.
Former NBA All-Star John Wall, who retired earlier this year, knows this well. Now starting a new chapter as an NBA analyst for Prime Video, Wall is reminding young Filipino players of the importance of balancing basketball with education.
“Those Filipino kids playing, they make sure they get their education. You never know where basketball can take you”, Wall told SPIN.ph during the launch of a new collaboration studio in Culver City, California.
Wall, 35, reflected on his own journey, emphasizing how learning from every moment helped him transition from an NBA career to analysis. “That’s the most important thing, above everything. Kind of like a lot of us, there’s not much opportunity to go to college if not for scholarships. That’s why, you don’t just play, it’s really important to get smart. I hope they continue giving value to that to continue to grow”, he said.
Starting this October, Wall will debut as an analyst with Prime Video, following Amazon’s 11-year partnership with the NBA to stream select games in the Philippines.
Having experienced Manila’s vibrant basketball scene firsthand, Wall believes the country is full of talent and potential. “It’s really dope how basketball grew in the Philippines. I definitely want to get back there and see it for myself. Hopefully next summer, but I hope they can keep continuing to grow basketball”, he said.
For young players chasing their dreams, Wall’s advice is simple, keep building, stay focused, and value education. His message is a reminder that while talent can open doors, knowledge and discipline will take them further both on and off the court.
Wall’s words echo a powerful truth, basketball can be a path to success, but only if players stay smart, determined, and ready to learn.
