John Wall was unable to participate in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game because of a left knee injury. The Washington Wizards guard had been selected for his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance, but swelling and discomfort in the knee led to an arthroscopic procedure and forced him to withdraw from the game.
Wall was originally assigned to Team LeBron in the first All-Star Game using the new captain-based format, which replaced the traditional Eastern Conference versus Western Conference matchup. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver selected Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond as Wall’s replacement, keeping the replacement within the Eastern Conference.
A common mix-up is confusing Wall’s absence with other 2018 All-Star withdrawals. DeMarcus Cousins missed the game because of an Achilles injury, while Kristaps Porzingis later withdrew after tearing his ACL. Wall’s specific absence, however, was the one caused by a left knee injury. The 2018 game was played on February 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, with Team LeBron defeating Team Stephen.