Kemba Walker is retiring from basketball.
A four-time NBA All-Star and a nationwide champion at UConn, Walker introduced his determination to step away from the sport on Tuesday at 34 years previous.
Walker performed 12 NBA seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks. He spent his final season as a professional taking part in for the EuroLeague’s AS Monaco. Now he is shifting on to the subsequent chapter.
“I’m right here to share that I’m formally retiring from basketball,” Walker wrote in his retirement announcement. “This has all been a dream. After I look again, I nonetheless can’t imagine the issues I achieved in my profession. …
“Basketball will without end be part of my life so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s subsequent.”
At his finest, Walker was one of many sport’s finest scoring level guards. A five-star recruit out of highschool, Walker delivered on his promise in three seasons at UConn. He earned consensus All-America honors as a junior and led UConn to a No. 3 seed within the NCAA match. The Huskies defeated Kentucky and Butler after advancing to the Ultimate 4 to safe this system’s third nationwide championship.
He joined the then-Charlotte Bobcats because the No. 9 choose within the 2011 NBA Draft. He helped lead Charlotte to 2 playoff appearances and made three All-Star groups in eight seasons with the franchise.
The Hornets traded Walker to the Boston Celtics forward of the 2019-20 season. Walker made one other All-Star group in his first yr in Boston and went on to play three extra NBA seasons. A lingering knee damage that required three surgical procedures all through his profession restricted him to 9 video games in his ultimate NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks. He performed restricted minutes with Monaco final season and is now calling it a profession.
In 12 NBA seasons, Walker averaged 19.3 factors, 5.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per sport. He shot 41.8% from the sphere and 36% from 3-point distance. At his peak, he averaged 25.6 factors and 5.9 assists per sport in his ultimate season in Charlotte.
He leaves a basketball legacy as a UConn nice and the face of the revival of the Hornets from the Bobcats after the NBA’s return to Charlotte. He retires because the Hornets’ all-time main scorer.