Kemba Walker Three-Time All-Star

Lore & Background

Walker attended Rice High School in Harlem, New York City. During his junior year, Walker played once at Madison Square Garden against Simeon Career Academy and senior guard Derrick Rose in a 53–51 victory. Over his senior year, he posted 18.2 points and 5.3 assists per game, earning him a spot on the prestigious McDonald's All-American Team. He was able to play in the elite New York City Gauchos, the premier AAU basketball program for youth, and was joined by fellow Big East Conference talents-to-be Jordan Theodore and Darryl Bryant. Walker's team finished No. 1 in the nation. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Walker was listed as the No. 5 point guard and the No. 14 player in the nation in 2008.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Spectrum Center is thick with anticipation, the roar of the crowd a physical force pressing against the glass. Kemba stands at the free-throw line, the arena lights blindingly bright above him. He dribbles once, twice, the rhythm steady despite the noise. The defense collapses, but he sees the opening—a sliver of space in the paint. A crossover, a spin, and the ball arcs perfectly toward the rim. As it swishes through the net, the stadium erupts. This is the moment that defined an era; this is why they call him Point God.

Reader's Guide

Walker graduated from UConn in three years and entered the 2011 NBA draft, selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. He signed a multi-year shoe deal with Under Armour, the first rookie from the 2011 draft class to do so. On December 11, 2011, he signed the rookie scale contract with the Bobcats, and with the injury of point guard D. J. Augustin, he became their starting point guard for the lockout-shortened season. Walker participated in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend. However, the Charlotte Bobcats only managed to go 7–59 in the lockout season. In the 2012–13 season, he hit his first career game-winner against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 14, 2012, and scored a then career-high 35 points against the Houston Rockets on January 21, 2013. He was selected with teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge. He finished the season with averages of 17.7 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2 steals per contest. In the 2013–14 season, he hit a buzzer-beating jump shot over Jonas Valančiūnas in overtime to beat the Toronto Raptors on December 18, 2013, and recorded a career-high 16 assists on February 19, 2014, in a win over the Detroit Pistons. He was awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on February 24, 2014. On April 4, 2014, he recorded his second career triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds against the Orlando Magic. In the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Miami Heat, he had a playoff franchise-high 29 points in game four. In the 2014–15 season, he signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Hornets on October 30, 2014. He scored a then career-high 42 points on December 27, 2014, against the Orlando Magic, setting a Charlotte Hornets franchise record for most points scored in a half with 35 points in the second. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on January 12, 2015.

Did You Know?

• Walker is a three-time NBA All-Star.
• Walker is a two-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award.
• Walker won the Bob Cousy Award for college basketball's top point guard in 2011.
• Walker led UConn to a 2011 NCAA championship and was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.