Former lottery pick and four-time All-Star Kemba Walker announced his retirement from professional basketball on Tuesday. Walker’s illustrious career spanned 12 NBA seasons with four franchises, most notably the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets. His final NBA stint was with the Dallas Mavericks in 2023 before playing overseas with AS Monaco last season.
Walker, a standout at UConn, led the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA title, averaging 23.5 points per game that season. His heroics included a memorable game-winning shot against Pittsburgh in the 2012 Big East Tournament, which propelled UConn to win both the Big East and NCAA Tournaments, earning him the Most Outstanding Player award.
In a heartfelt statement released on social media, Walker expressed gratitude for his basketball journey:
“I want to start this by thanking God for everything he has given me. Basketball has done more for me than I could’ve ever imagined, and I am super thankful for the amazing journey I’ve had. With that, I’m here to share that I am officially retiring from the game of basketball. This has all been a dream. When I look back, I still can’t believe the things I achieved in my career.
I know I couldn’t have made it to this point without my incredible support system around me. There are so many people to thank — my mom, dad and entire family, my teammates who have become family, and the coaches who believed in me and brought out the best in me. Basketball will forever be a part of my life so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s next.”
Walker was selected ninth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. He spent his first eight seasons in Charlotte, earning three All-Star selections, an All-NBA Second Team nod, and leading the team to two playoff appearances in 2014 and 2016.
In 2019, Walker made a difficult decision to leave the Hornets, joining the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade deal that sent Terry Rozier to Charlotte. Reflecting on that period, Walker said:
“Tough days, f—ing tough days, I can’t even lie. Excuse my language. It was difficult. I couldn’t see myself just being on another team. It was just hard. That’s all I’ve known was Charlotte. Definitely some tough times. I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to get the offer that I wanted, and maybe not close to it, because of cap space.”
Walker made an All-Star appearance in his first season with the Celtics and helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals in the bubble. However, recurring knee issues marred his subsequent seasons, limiting him to just 89 more NBA games across stints with the Celtics, New York Knicks, and Mavericks.
Over 750 career NBA games, Kemba Walker averaged 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. His retirement marks the end of a remarkable career filled with memorable moments and significant contributions to the teams he played for and the sport as a whole.
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