What Happened to Kemba Walker? Is He Retiring?
by Mathelene | Updated May 26, 2023
Who is Kemba Walker?
Kemba Walker is a professional basketball player from the United States. He was born on May 8, 1990, in Bronx, New York. Walker played college basketball for the University of Connecticut, where he had a successful career and led his team to win the NCAA Championship in 2011. In the 2011 NBA Draft, Kemba Walker was selected as the 9th overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets). He quickly made an impact in the NBA and became one of the team's key players.
Throughout his career, Walker has established himself as a dynamic and talented point guard. He is known for his quickness, ball-handling skills, and ability to score in various ways, including driving to the basket and shooting from outside. Walker has also been recognized for his leadership qualities and clutch performances in important games.
After spending eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker became a free agent in 2019 and signed with the Boston Celtics. He played two seasons with the Celtics from 2019 to 2021, before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in June 2021.
In terms of his individual achievements, Walker has been named an NBA All-Star on multiple occasions, including in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He has also received various honors and awards throughout his career, including being named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2019.
On June 18, 2021, Walker was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Oklahoma City Thunder along with draft picks in exchange for Al Horford, Moses Brown, and another draft pick. However, on August 6, 2021, he reached a contract buyout agreement with the Thunder, becoming a free agent.
Following his departure from the Thunder, Walker was involved in another trade. On July 6, 2022, he was traded along with the draft rights to Jalen Duren to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. However, on October 17, 2022, Walker reached a contract buyout agreement with the Pistons, once again becoming a free agent.
On November 28, 2022, Walker signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. He had an impressive performance on December 17, 2022, scoring a season-high 32 points, along with five rebounds and seven assists in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, on January 6, 2023, Walker was waived by the Mavericks, indicating the end of his tenure with the team.
What Happened to Kemba Walker?
Kemba Walker's professional basketball career has experienced a significant setback due to a succession of injuries. These physical challenges have greatly impeded his ability to showcase the exceptional skills and performance he was known for on the basketball court. Unfortunately, the cumulative toll of these injuries has resulted in a considerable decline in Walker's overall impact within the NBA.
Once regarded as a highly influential player, Walker's injuries have prevented him from maintaining the same level of excellence and productivity he demonstrated earlier in his career. These physical setbacks have limited his playing time, restricted his mobility, and affected his overall athleticism, thereby diminishing his ability to contribute significantly to his team.
As a consequence, Walker's once-promising trajectory in the league has been derailed. The inability to consistently showcase his talents and make a substantial impact has caused him to lose some of the recognition and prominence he previously enjoyed in the NBA. While his skills and leadership qualities are still recognized, the lingering effects of injuries have resulted in a notable decline in his overall status as a prominent figure in the league.
Kemba Walker Height in feet
Kemba Walker, standing at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 meters) in height, was selected as the ninth overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets) in the 2011 NBA draft. Prior to his professional career, Walker played college basketball for the University of Connecticut Huskies.
During the 2010-2011 season, Walker emerged as one of the most prominent players in college basketball. He showcased his exceptional scoring abilities, finishing as the second-leading scorer in the nation. Walker's remarkable performances earned him recognition as a consensus first-team All-American.
One of the highlights of Walker's collegiate career came during the 2011 NCAA tournament. Leading the UConn Huskies, he played a pivotal role in their journey to the championship title. Walker's exceptional contributions on the court were instrumental in his team's success, and he was honored with the Most Outstanding Player award for his outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
Kemba Walker Celtics
In a Twitter post, an unnamed Celtics trainer, as shared by Enes Kanter, expressed regret over the decision to play Kemba Walker during the 2020 NBA bubble despite his injury. According to the trainer, he had advised Celtics management, including Danny Ainge and Mike Zerren, against playing Walker during the playoffs in the bubble due to his existing injury.
However, the team went ahead with the decision, resulting in Walker being unable to play for six weeks into the following season. Ultimately, the trainer believes that this mismanagement of Walker's injury contributed to his decline and subsequent trade. The trainer further stated that Walker was already injured when he joined the Celtics, and the team did not handle his injury situation well.
This led to a feeling of sympathy for Walker, as he was seen as a talented player who was not properly taken care of by the Celtics' performance staff, including Executive Director of Performance, Phil Coles. After the bubble, Walker underwent a stem cell injection in his knee during the offseason, which was the same knee he had injured during the 2014-2015 NBA season.
The injury kept him sidelined until January 2021. Following his time with the Celtics, Walker signed a four-year, $140.79 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets in 2019. However, he was later traded and eventually waived by the Dallas Mavericks in the current season, leading to his departure from the NBA.
Kemba Walker Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft class is widely regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history, featuring multiple players who are likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Additionally, many players from this class have earned significant contracts and made All-Star teams, while some have made crucial contributions to championship-winning teams.
However, there were also notable disappointments among the top-10 picks, as well as some hidden gems found in the later rounds. Let's reimagine how the draft class of 2011 could have unfolded. Kemba Walker, a standout player from the University of Connecticut, is a clear choice for the Toronto Raptors at the fifth overall pick.
With an impressive career spanning nine seasons, Walker has averaged 19.9 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting at a respectable 42% from the field, 36% from beyond the arc, and 84% from the free-throw line. Unfortunately for Walker, the majority of his career was spent with the struggling Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets franchise.
In this hypothetical scenario, Walker gets the opportunity to join the well-regarded Toronto Raptors organization. With the Raptors, he could have potentially filled the role of what Kyle Lowry currently represents to the team—a key leader and vital contributor. Moving to a better-run franchise like Toronto could have elevated Walker's career and provided him with more team success.
Reimagining the draft class of 2011 allows us to envision a scenario where Walker, known for his scoring ability and leadership qualities, finds himself in a more favorable situation with the Raptors. This alternate path might have granted him greater recognition, improved team success, and potentially solidified his status as a future Hall of Fame inductee alongside other notable players from the 2011 draft class.
What Happened to Kemba Walker - FAQs
Kemba Walker is a professional basketball player from the United States who played in the NBA.
Kemba Walker's basketball career has been hampered by a series of injuries, which have significantly impacted his performance on the court.
Kemba Walker stands at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 meters) in height.