10-year veteran Kemba Walker has had an amazing NBA career so far. A 4x All-Star and 19-point-per game scorer, he was once among basketball’s best scoring guards.
He signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2021, a move that was widely praised at the time.
Unfortunately, Kemba was pulled from the Knicks rotation recently, perhaps spelling the beginning of the end of his NBA tenure.
“I could be pissed,” Kemba said about his benching. “I could be upset, but at the end of the day, there are some young guys here who look up to me. Pretty sure they wanted to see how I reacted to the situation.”
“Maybe I can be a role model in that aspect. Like I said, it was tough for me. But at the end of the day, it’s not just about me. I’m a team guy first, I’ve always been. You can ask anybody who I’ve ever played with. Always been a team guy first. I love being around my teammates and I’m gonna cheer them on till I can’t anymore.”
But amid COVID-19’s NBA resurgence, Walker got the chance to start again after several players were ruled out due to health ad safety protocols.
He finished with 29 points in the 7-point loss, and he spoke up again about not being in the regular rotation.
“I know I should be playing.”
“I hate it. I want to play. Kemba Walker admits it’s been a “rough couple years” with injuries he’s dealt with, but that everyone goes through tough times. “I’ve had a great career thus far, and a lot of things have gone my way. It’s a tough time right now … [but] I feel like I’m built for any situation.”
Kemba Walker: "I know I should be playing."
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) December 19, 2021
Kemba was the leading man in Charlotte for years before making his way up north. In the seasons since, he has posted averages of 18.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 1 steal per game on 42% shooting.
As a veteran, fan-favorite, and highly respected player, Kemba’s benching hit hard for a lot of fans around the league.
And while his future remains uncertain, it turns out he might still have something left in the tank after all.
