4-time All-Star Kemba Walker introduced he’s retiring from basketball after 13 seasons, 12 of which got here within the NBA.
Walker, the ninth general select of UConn in 2011 by the Charlotte Bobcats, posted a prolonged assertion to social media declaring his determination to finish his enjoying days.
Nonetheless, basketball didn’t appear to be one thing Walker needs to depart totally behind.
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Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks brings the ball up court docket through the first quarter towards the Portland Path Blazers on the Moda Middle on February 12, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Photos)
“I need to begin this by thanking God for all the things he has given me,” Walker wrote in his assertion. “Basketball has accomplished extra for me than I may’ve ever imagined, and I’m tremendous grateful for the superb journey I’ve had.
“With that, I’m right here to share that I’m formally retiring from the sport of basketball. This has all been a dream. Once I look again, I nonetheless can’t imagine the issues I achieved in my profession.”
As is customary with a retirement assertion, Walker thanked those that impacted him all these years.
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“I do know I could not have made it thus far with out my unbelievable help system round me,” Walker mentioned within the assertion. “There are such a lot of folks to thank — my mother, dad and whole household, my teammates who’ve grow to be household, and the coaches who believed in me and introduced out the most effective in me.
“Basketball will endlessly be part of my life, so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s subsequent.”
Walker, 34, performed abroad in his last season this previous yr for Monaco in EuroLeague, totaling 4.4 factors, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per recreation over 26 contests.
Kemba Walker #34 of the Dallas Mavericks appears to be like on towards the Minnesota Timberwolves within the third quarter of the sport at Goal Middle on December 19, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Mavericks 116-106. (David Berding/Getty Photos)
Earlier than that, Walker’s function within the NBA had been diminishing, enjoying simply 37 video games in his homecoming to New York with the Knicks through the 2021-22 marketing campaign, and enjoying simply 9 video games with the Dallas Mavericks the next yr.
Nonetheless, Walker, a pure scorer throughout his days with the Huskies, introduced that instantly to the Bobcats when he joined the league.
As we speak, Walker stays Charlotte’s all-time main scorer with 12,009 factors, which he totaled over eight seasons as they transitioned to the Hornets.
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Walker’s greatest years got here from 2016-20, the place he earned 4 consecutive All-Star nods and third-team All-NBA throughout his last season in Charlotte through the 2018-19 marketing campaign when he had a career-high 25.6 factors per recreation.
Walker would transfer on to the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade deal earlier than the 2019-20 season, the place his All-Star standing continued with 20.4 factors and 4.9 assists per recreation.
Nonetheless, accidents would begin to derail Walker’s profession a bit after signing with Boston. He performed simply 43 of a potential 72 video games the next season after being as sturdy as any guard within the league in earlier years. Walker missed simply 35 video games complete over his first eight seasons.
However when wholesome, Walker was merely a bucket, being able to attain wherever on the ground.
His nickname, “Cardiac Kemba,” was developed in faculty along with his knack for scoring in clutch moments, together with an iconic stepback jumper towards Pitt within the 2011 Huge East Quarterfinal that noticed UConn win on the buzzer.
Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks reacts through the first half of a recreation towards the Boston Celtics at TD Backyard on December 18, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Malhotra/Getty Photos)
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They’d go on to win the match, and the next NCAA Event over Butler, that yr.
For his NBA profession, Walker averaged 19.3 factors, 5.3 assists and three.8 rebounds per recreation whereas capturing 41.8% from the sphere.
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