Kemba Walker primed for homecoming with New York Knicks
NEW YORK (BVM) — In the early morning of Aug. 4, news broke that the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to buyout Kemba Walker’s contract, and Walker would end up signing with the New York Knicks. Walker would agree to a two-year deal worth $18 million to come to the city that made him into the player that he is today.
Everyone has a certain place that they call home. For Walker, that home is in New York, specifically in the Bronx. Walker grew up in the Soundview Projects in the Bronx, where he would see many negative activities. He used basketball as a tool to better his situation.
The Bronx native would star at Rice High School in Harlem, New York, where he would make a name for himself as one of the top basketball players in the country. During his time at Rice, Walker would become a McDonald’s All-American and would continue to garner attention nationally, ranking as the No.14 player in the Class of 2008.
Walker’s connection to his future Knicks teammates would start during his time at Rice, with the newest Knicks guard going head-to-head against current teammate Derrick Rose and Simeon High School at Madison Square Garden. Rice beat Simeon that game by a score of 53-51.
After high school, Walker would continue to stay in the Northeast, taking his talents to the University of Connecticut (UConn). Walker spent three years in Connecticut and was guided by Hall of Fame coach, Jim Calhoun, who had already won two national titles before Walker got to UConn.
Walker and Calhoun would later make more history during the 2011 season, as the Huskies would go on a magical postseason run that ended with UConn winning the 2011 Big East Tournament. It’s there where Walker would create his own legend, as he is known for hitting his stepback buzzer beater in the quarterfinal against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Walker would lead the Huskies all the way to the national championship in his final season where they would go on to defeat Butler. The star UConn guard was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, eventually punching his ticket to the NBA.
Now going into his 11th season, Walker is coming back home to the place where it all started for him.
New York is known as the mecca of basketball and for building basketball talent, specifically, at the point guard position. Past players such as Rod Strickland, Mark Jackson and Stephon Marbury know what it’s like to play for the hometown team leading the way at point guard. Walker is next to join that lineage.
After signing with the team during the offseason, Walker is looking forward to going back to where it all started.
“This feeling has been like no other,” Walker told ESPN. “Just randomly getting goosebumps. It’s an unbelievable feeling to be able to come home. As far as added pressure — I don’t think so. As long as I’m in a great environment around great people I’ll be fine.”
Having a talent like Walker come back home feels like a breath of fresh air. A player that relates to the city and the fanbase.
Welcome home.
