After ten rather calm months, everything accelerated very quickly for Kemba Walker, called by Dallas to replace Facundo Campazzo and take on the role of understudy for Luka Doncic. A major challenge and a great opportunity to shine within an ambitious team that he quickly seized.
If he stayed on the sidelines for a long time, the leader said he never gave up the idea of a return to the NBA.
“I was just in Orlando training and preparing for this moment, for this opportunity. I was fighting. I trained as if I was in the middle of the season. I had my job to do and I was trying to take care of my body as much as possible, while waiting for a phone call.
It was therefore Dallas who benefited from the return to form of the former “go-to-guy” of the Hornets, who then passed through the Celtics and the Knicks. In his first four games, he had 15 points and 4.3 assists with a remarkable performance against Cleveland: 32 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists!
“I don’t know many people who can do that”, emphasizes Christian Wood. “He’s an All-Star type player, he’s shown what he can do, he’s made over $100 million in his career, so he’s not someone you can take for granted. the slight. The fact that he comes off the bench and helps the other guys is huge.
Much more than just a replacement
As he explained on the sidelines of a pre-season game between Charlotte and Boston, the point guard was ready, no matter what role we wanted to give him.
“I’m here to do my best and help in any way I can. I’m really happy to be here, to have another opportunity, and to be around such great people. The energy here is incredible. These are the things that I appreciate, with the spirit of camaraderie”he pointed out. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t like stepping on anyone’s toes and I don’t feel above anyone.”
Beyond his contribution to the field and the spark he hopes to bring when he is on the court, Kemba Walker will also have his experience as an asset, even if he has never played in the NBA finals yet. Dallas’ goal.
“Things I can see that they don’t see every day, game to game”he clarified about what he could bring thanks to his CV. “You just have to provide that energy, that intensity, that leadership. You know that on some occasions, I will be there to help these guys as much as possible, to score when they need me, or just create. That’s really all there is to it. Whatever they ask me, I will try to do it”.
| Kemba Walker | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | CHA | 66 | 27 | 36.6 | 30.5 | 78.9 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 12.1 |
| 2012-13 | CHA | 82 | 35 | 42.3 | 32.2 | 79.8 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 17.7 |
| 2013-14 | CHA | 73 | 36 | 39.3 | 33.3 | 83.7 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 17.7 |
| 2014-15 | CHA | 62 | 34 | 38.5 | 30.4 | 82.7 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 17.3 |
| 2015-16 | CHA | 81 | 36 | 42.7 | 37.1 | 84.7 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHA | 79 | 35 | 44.3 | 39.9 | 84.7 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 23.2 |
| 2017-18 | CHA | 80 | 34 | 43.1 | 38.4 | 86.4 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 22.1 |
| 2018-19 | CHA | 82 | 35 | 43.4 | 35.6 | 84.4 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 56 | 31 | 42.5 | 38.1 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 20.5 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 43 | 32 | 42.0 | 36.0 | 89.9 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 19.3 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 37 | 26 | 40.3 | 36.7 | 84.5 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 11.7 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 4 | 25 | 43.2 | 26.1 | 84.2 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 15.0 |
| Total | 744 | 33 | 41.8 | 36.0 | 84.0 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 19.4 | |
