Kemba Walker, a former champion at UConn and four-time NBA All-Star, has announced his retirement from professional basketball. In a statement shared on social media, Walker expressed gratitude for his incredible support system, including his family, teammates, and coaches who believed in him and brought out the best in him.
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Walker was drafted 9th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in the 2011 NBA draft, shortly after leading UConn to a national championship. He steadily improved in Charlotte before breaking out as an All-Star in 2016-17, earning the honor for the next two seasons as well. Walker’s best season came in 2018-19 when he averaged a career-high 25.6 points per game and was named to the All-NBA third team.
After his third straight All-Star selection, Walker joined the Boston Celtics in 2019, where he made another All-Star team. However, injuries began to take a toll on the guard, limiting his playing time. Walker won the only two playoff series of his career with Boston in 2020, but the team ultimately fell to the Miami Heat in the conference finals.
Subsequent seasons saw Walker’s injury woes continue, leading to trades to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons, as well as a brief stint with the New York Knicks. He spent last season playing sparingly with AS Monaco in the French League before announcing his retirement.
Prior to the NBA, Walker established himself as a big-game player at UConn, leading the team to a national championship in 2011 and earning Most Outstanding Player honors in the Big East and NCAA tournaments. He finished his NBA career as the Hornets’ all-time leader in points, 3-pointers, win shares, and minutes played, while ranking highly in several other franchise categories.
“I thank God for blessing me and my family with the opportunity to play basketball.”
Kemba Walker announces his retirement in an exclusive convo with Melo and Mero on 7PM in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/VzOy2CvtqQ
Advertisement— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) July 2, 2024
