Antoine Walker

Three-time NBA All-Star and 2006 NBA champion with the Miami Heat.

Antoine Devon Walker (born August 12, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player. He was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft out of the University of Kentucky and played in the NBA from 1996 to 2008. Walker played for the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, the BSN's Mets de Guaynabo and the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede before retiring from basketball in 2012. Walker, a three-time NBA All-Star, won an NCAA championship with Kentucky in 1996 and an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006.

Quick Facts

Born: 12 August 1976
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
College: Kentucky (1994–1996)
Draft round: 1
Drafted by: Boston Celtics
Career number: 8, 88, 24
Career position: Power forward; small forward

Lore & Background

Walker attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where he played with future NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb and attained all-state status as a senior, earning a full scholarship to play for Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky. He was a starting forward on the Wildcats' 1996 NCAA championship-winning team. As a freshman at Kentucky he made an immediate impact, but it was in his sophomore year (1996) that he was named SEC Tournament MVP. That same season, Walker was named All-SEC First, All-SEC Tournament and to the All-NCAA Regional Teams.

Reader's Guide

Walker played for the Boston Celtics (1996–2003), Dallas Mavericks (2003–2004), Atlanta Hawks (2004–2005), returned to the Celtics (2005), Miami Heat (2005–2007), Minnesota Timberwolves (2007–2008), Mets de Guaynabo (2010), and Idaho Stampede (2010–2012). He won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006. During his first season with the Heat (2005–06), he averaged 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as the team's main scorer off the bench. In the 2006 playoffs, he was the third leading scorer for the Heat, posting 13.8 points per game in the NBA Finals as Miami won in 6 games.