Kemba Walker left the only franchise he ever knew during the offseason, signing a four-year deal with the Celtics. After years of finishing in the lottery or competing for a low playoff seed in Charlotte, he’s enjoying his time in Boston, as Jared Weiss of The Athletic details.
“I think I’ve definitely earned respect from my peers and people around the league,” the four-time All-Star says. “But for me personally, I just really haven’t — I’ve only been to the playoffs two times in eight years. I played well in the playoffs, but I never got out the first round. So I haven’t really done much, you know? Definitely still have some ways to go.”
Walker believes that Kyrie Irving would have gotten the All-Star start if the Brooklyn point guard hadn’t gotten hurt.
“He’s playing well,man, he just wasn’t healthy,” Walker said graciously.
Irving had taken the starting spot over Walker in past years. Walker was seen as a player who was just putting up stats, someone who wasn’t able to carry a team to great heights.
“Obviously, last year was my first (All-Star) start,” Walker says. “I mean, the game was in Charlotte. I think that’s probably why I really got the start. I was averaging about 26 and a half (points per game) at the time. This year, like 21, something like that or whatever. But now I’m more so being recognized for being on a winning team, not more so recognized for my stats, you know?”
They should at least get out of the first round but beating someone like Milwaukee, Toronto, or Miami in a 7-game series will be extremely difficult.
Milwaukee, yes. But the Celtics should beat Toronto or Miami. Tatum is getting that killer look in his eyes. The playoffs will be a coming out party for the young Boston players and Kemba as the 3rd option will be scary.
If the season ended today youd be playing the Pacers in the first round
No garuntee you’re winning that, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here and think you’re gonna skate passed the defending champions either
Nurse will keep tatum to under 20ppg with all his schemes. OG will be his shadow.
Kemba has to get by Lowry/FVV and Gasol/Ibaka
You better hope Hayword and Brown do something special, RHJ and Davis can guard pretty damn well too
You dont have the interior game to go against the Raptors bigs and our perimeter defense is on point
If you cant get home court for that series you have no chance
What?!!! No.
Newsflash…..NBA player wants to win in the playoffs….derp…derp…derp
Shoot for the stars kemba. A 1st round victory is quite the accomplishment
Yes, exactly. . Sounds like he’s up for individual accomplishments again rather than getting the team to the finals.
He’s being humble. He didn’t say his goal was a first round victory. Read again.
Exactly. He’s acknowledging the fact that he personally hasn’t won before and now he wants to improve. Literally only says “I have ways to go.”
In the short story above quoting him, I read 15 I, I’ve, me, my. Not exactly. The pronouns “I’d” like to hear.
Wally, what part of
“I’ve never gotten out of the first round” don’t you understand?
I’m sad Kemba left the Hornets but it’s great to see him thrive with the Celtics and finally getting to play on a winning team. Unfortunately, my Hirnets were never going to get him what he deserved, and that is a well-rounded roster.
Ppl always say stuff that somebody didn’t say. That’s what’s wrong with the word today!
This article was just a few paragraphs and still, 90 percent of the people commenting here didn’t read it. Commenting after just reading the headline is fun!
Kemba Walker is frustrated and I can understand why 8 years in the league and no more than four or five playoff appearances. Few appearances on national television make Kimba Walker the least most recognized all star in the league. Glad the celts pick him up.
Kemba again shows his unselfishness on and off the court. That makes him the ultimate point guard for the Celts.
“A series”? Why not set the bar low? Jeez.
Again, that’s the headline. The article itself doesn’t say one word about “a series”
golf clap
The goal is a championship, not one series victory.
Its a reasonable bar to set. Its where i, as a fan, put them at least. The minimum is they should get out of the 1st round, anything below that is a failure and anything won after that is just gravy. They could get out of the 2nd round and make the conference finals, but looking at the roster and taking all the variables into context, that outcome seems to ambiguous to set as an expectation. Hes being reasonable, ill take that all day over how kyrie would approach the take.