Playoff John Wall is back, and that means exchanging good, old-fashioned trash talk with world-famous rappers.
This year, Wall is entrenched in a war of words with Raptors global ambassador and multiplatinum-selling artist Drake.
WE WANT ALL DA SMOKE. It started on Instagram, now John Wall is talking trash to Drake to his face.
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) April 14, 2018
LIVE STREAM: https://t.co/Uvk3ibqA3C pic.twitter.com/LmTPSoLMun
Wall took to Instagram on Friday to share a photo of himself boarding the plane to Toronto for Game 1 of the Wizards' first-round series vs. the Raptors.
Drake wasted no time commenting on Wall's photo, posting a series of emojis to which Wall replied, "(W)e want all the smoke !!! Let's get it," letting Drake know he and the Wizards were prepared for their upcoming playoff battle.
Drake doubled down on his warning to Wall, replying, "FREE SMOKE TMRW NIGHT," implying that the Raptors would give Wall and the Wizards more than they could handle in Game 1.
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Not too long after the game's tip, Drake appeared in his usual courtside seat along Toronto's sideline, the perfect spot to encourage his beloved Raptors and taunt his NBA friends from other teams.
Wall and Drake, who are longtime friends as a result of Drake's Kentucky fandom, appeared to continue their banter during Game 1. After the back-and-forth between the two, the Wizards went on a significant run.
Drake might want to be wary of talking to Wall, who during last year's Wizards playoff series vs. the Hawks correctly predicted in a dialogue with Atlanta's own Julio Jones, Gucci Mane and Quavo that he would do serious damage.
John Wall: "I told them I was going to get 35 or more & we were going to win. And we did that."
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 29, 2017
Bradley Beal: "For the culture." pic.twitter.com/ndZLP8gDr8
Wall finished with 42 points in the Wizards' closeout of the Hawks in Game 6.
Only time will tell if this year's war of words with Drake will result in another signature playoff performance from Wall, who had 23 points (on 6-for-20 shooting), 15 assists and four steals Saturday in a Washington loss.
