In a conversation with Steve Serby of The New York Post, Knicks point guard Kemba Walker discussed the opportunity he received this offseason to join his hometown team.
Walker, a four-time All-Star with the Hornets and Celtics, has already had a busy summer. He was traded to the Thunder, then reached a buyout agreement with Oklahoma City so that he could sign a two-year, $18MM deal with New York.
“There’s nothing more I will want than to win a championship in New York,” Walker said. “I’m gonna give it every-everything I got. Every time I step on the court I’m gonna play super-hard, 110 percent. As far as a championship, I can’t put a time or date on it, but just know that we’re gonna be working towards that goal.”
Knee issues hampered the end of his tenure in Boston, but when he was able to see the floor last season Walker’s counting stats were respectable. Across 43 games, he averaged 19.3 PPG, 4.9 APG, and 4.0 RPG, with a shooting line of .420/.360/.899.
Walker discussed his enthusiasm to play with foundational All-NBA Knicks forward Julius Randle. When asked what he most appreciated about his new teammate, Walker replied, “His toughness, and his growth from the last couple of years into now, I’m just like in awe the way he has grown as a basketball player.”
RJ Barrett, 2019’s third overall pick and the Knicks’ second-leading scorer last year, also warranted special mention from Walker.
“I’ve just been a fan of him,” Walker said. “When he was in high school I saw him play and I saw his highlights and stuff like that, I’ve always been a super-big fan of him. Playing against guys like RJ, the first thing I noticed was how hard he plays, it’s not even the skill. … That’s a real talent, playing hard. So I’m looking forward to just helping those guys a little bit more, teaching them the ropes. Just being a vet.”
Walker has also already developed a bond with second-year point guard Immanuel Quickley.
“When I signed, he was one of the first guys to text me, which was really cool, welcome me in, asked me to get some workouts in with me, I definitely appreciated that,” Walker said. “But playing against him last year, even watching at Kentucky, he has so much potential. I think I could be able to help him get there.”
Last season
Walker stats
19, 5, 4
Danny Green stats
9, 2, 4
Good job, Knicks
You’re leaving out one big stat, games played. Kemba – 43, Green – 69.
Averages don’t mean a whole lot when you miss almost half of the season.
Talking to yourself again lol.
Green is a SG. Kemba is a PG
Absolutely nothing to do with post. Or one another. RocketHomer
So says KnickerbockerHomer, stop being such a hypocrite.
Settle down, you can both be homers.
Wait, Sillivan is a Rocket Homer? I always assumed he had no allegiance. Like Chaotic Neutral.
I believe they are the same person. Just follow his posts.
Lmao chill out
Very different posts. Robohouston is at risk for skitsofrenia if true. (That would be an unofficial nonmedical online version schizophrenia, when one person uses multiple posternalities.)
He couldn’t beat Russ westbrick one on one or put up more counting stats but he definitely still helps teams win more then Russ and any argument otherwise is disqualified as null and void
Except for one caveat, he definitely helps teams win more than Russ but only when he’s healthy. Kemba missed 45 games when he was in Boston.
No one writes what ALL Knick fans want to know. No one asks the question ALL Knicks fans want to ask.
Kemba you had cartilage damage in your left knee. Is it healed or is it just the best it’s going to be. Are you the Kemba of Charlotte. Or are you now 85% of that player.
Will you play back to back gms. And will you be gm managed for the rest of your career. We just want to know the truth. Cause an 85% Kemba is still a solid starter for us.
Whe we need him he can play 32-34 mins. When we don’t he can rest more in a gm. I’m ok with him not playing back2back gms. Knicks have depth at PG. This is the deepest we’ve been at PG. Since Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, Maurice Cheeks.
So we don’t need him to push himself. Just be the best you can be. And let the depth help you help us.
Rose, Quickley, McBride, even Burkes n RJ can play Point. So 30 mins a gm. Would be huge for us.
I thought Luca was signed. So Quickley and Toppin could be moved. It still could happen. But both have played great. And Luca seems the odd man out at this point. Oh Well, we’ll see
AL speaks for ALL knicks fans when asking a question nobody could know, to a person not present, using the pronoun we, at length. AL is an illiterate madman. Or a madman missing hands.
This just in knicks are still bad. Weak conference. Should have tanked for 2/3 years after barrett and got some young talents to build around. instead they spent a ton on randle (1 year of solid production) and kemba (coming of 2 bad years and an injury)
You realize tanking doesn’t work anymore, they have to make moves to get better. Last year was the first step in the right direction for the team. This year will be an even bigger step forward.
Knicks locked themselves into 3-4 years of being a team with a ceiling of 2nd round playoff exits and their fans rejoice.
Ok Kemba now back to reality, the Knicks are at best a 500 team even with you healthy and after watching you play last year I’m not seeing the lateral movement, the first step explosiveness, the athleticism or quickness. The Big three of bucks nets and Sixers can rest easy.
They were better than a .500 team last year and that’s with Elfrid Payton stinking it up at starting PG. Everything is dependent on health, of course, but they’ll have a full season of Rose and they upgraded Bullock to Fournier and Payton to Walker. Plus RJ, Toppin, Robinson (again, if healthy), and IQ are all still developing. And on top of that, they’re in the Eastern Conference.
I don’t expect greatness but 45 or even 50 wins is not improbable. Being ‘at best a 500 team’ is just ignorant hating.
AL speaks for you. Nuff said.
Muting me…. The few that do. Only shows the Cowards you are. Cause if you still want to criticize. You should be able to discuss it. Don’t worry children. I’ll be gentle this time.
There are posters who got opinions. Then there posters who just want to prove you wrong. How could I ever be wrong of MY opinion. How can anyone. But you post it as facts. That’s a whole different ball game. Learn the difference
Arguing is not the point fool. You ‘re just here because HR accepts everyone, even the pedos. You can’t even type with one finger. If you could see your words before posting you would off them.
Listen if you want to criticize. At least get the facts right. You don’t have to believe in Kemba or in global warming . But atleast get the full story if you want to make a stand. Otherwise you are only exposing yourself.
Knicks were a 4th seed last yr. But in the playoffs. The Hawks exposed their offense. That’s how they were able to beat them. Even though Knicks swept them in the season. They zoned Randle and had Capela waiting on RJ to drive. Considering Randle had a bad series. He still had better stats than any Hawks big. How funny is that.
Well Knicks addressed their offensive woes. They added a PG and a Shooter/wing. Two things they needed most. They drafted shooters Grimes. They drafted a future starting PG in McBride. They added 38 pts a gm with Kemba and Fournier. And Mitch their anchor on D. Is back with Noel backing him. The best backup center in NBA.
The East will be better. Heat and Celtics should be back. Hawks should be better. Or could be a hiccup. Pacers, Bulls, Hornets all better. Knicks are much better on paper, yes. But we got Thibs who puts that into action. So I know we are better than last yrs team. But unlike you geniuses here. I only expect a team who shows up to play no matter who the competition is. And I see us in second round. We’ll see who shows up for us. If Hawks could get to Finals. Than my team that is better than the Hawks. Will also have a shot. I’m just going to enjoy every gm. And enjoy all the crying here.
Big Thibideau fan, but you are counting on Randle, Rose, Walker, Fournier for multiple years, nevermind Mitch and Noel. The history behind these players, outside of Rose, is not one of success.