Bill + Westbrook + Wall s career trajectory is similar

On July 18, another big news broke in the NBA free market - Bradley Beal officially reached a buyout with the Suns, and then joined the Los Angeles Clippers with a two-year, $11 million contract.

This signing not only allowed the Clippers to add another former All-Star defender, but also allowed fans to discover an amazing coincidence: Bill, Russell Westbrook, and John Wall, the three signature shoe guards who once dominated the league, went along almost the same timeline toward the dusk of their careers.

Bill, Wall, and Westbrook, the three of them have played for the Washington Wizards at different times and have been the absolute core of the team. However, their careers have taken a staggering trajectory:

were traded to the Western Conference team

Wall: traded to the Rockets

Westbrook: traded to the Lakers

Bill: traded to the Suns

in 2023, lost the starting position, and was eventually bought out, Wall: was hidden in the Rockets, Then he was bought out

Westbrook: He became a substitute in the Lakers and was eventually bought out by the Jazz

Bill: He performed poorly in the Suns, and was bought out and joined the Clippers

Wall: He signed with the Clippers

Westbrook: He joined the Clippers

Bill: He joined the Clippers

This amazing similarity made the US media ClutchPoints tweet and sigh: "Bill, Westbrook, Wall, the three signature shoe guards, develop almost along the same timeline."

Bill, Wall, and Westbrook at their peak were all top defenders in the league:

Bill: 3 All-Stars, 1 Best Three Team (2021)

Wall: 5 All-Stars, 1 Best Second Team (2017), 1 Best Third Team (2017)

Westbrook: 9 All-Stars, 2 Best First Team (2016, 2017), 5 Best Second Team, 2 Best Third Team, 2017 MVP

However, injuries, age and tactical adaptation issues have caused their value to plummet. Bill originally had a super maximum salary of 251 million yuan for five years, but now he can only sign a contract of 11 million yuan for two years; Westbrook has reduced his annual salary from 47 million yuan to a basic salary; Wall has even become a marginalist from Mr. 40 million yuan.

The Clippers seem to have become a shelter for "Balloon Stars" in recent years. From Wall to Westbrook, and now Bill, the team's management seems to be keen on signing former All-Star defenders at a low price, trying to make them rejuvenate their second in the championship lineup.

Bill, Westbrook, and Wall, three former super defenders, are now following the same trajectory to the end of their careers. Their story may be the epitome of the cruel reality of the NBA - no matter how brilliant a superstar is, he cannot escape the judgment of time.