From NBA superstar to the European arena, Kemba Walker's basketball journey.
When it comes to basketball superstar Kemba Walker, countless fans will recall his glory days in the NBA. However, the three-time All-Star "Queen Bee" has had a bumpy career in recent years. Last summer, Walker chose to move to Europe to join Ligue 1 powerhouse Monaco in the intention of continuing his basketball dreams in Europe. But the embarrassing performance in the first game, with only 2 points, seemed to indicate that his career was in trouble again.
Back three years ago, Walker was the team's starter, scoring an astonishing 60 points in a single game at the height of his form. However, his experience of falling from All-Star height to not being able to establish himself in the NBA is very emotional. So, how exactly did this former basketball prodigy embark on this extraordinary path?
Walker was born on May 8, 1990 in a quiet town in the Bronx, New York City. Due to his parents' busy schedules, he spent most of his time with his grandfather. Fortunately, he inherited his father's excellent sports genes, and showed extraordinary athletic talent from an early age, and his speed far exceeded that of his peers. By chance, he witnessed the game of basketball legend Jordan on TV, and at that moment, he was deeply attracted by Jordan's elegant posture, and since then he has developed a strong interest in basketball. When his grandfather learned about it, he quickly installed a simple basketball hoop in the backyard, and little Walker practiced the basics of basketball day after day, imitating his idol's layup posture.
As he grew older, Walker's basketball IQ and competitive spirit gradually became prominent, and he stood out among his peers and became a well-known local basketball star. Entering high school, his talent was appreciated by his coach, and after two years of training, he grew into the core of the team. In his junior season, he averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game to help the team win the state championship and was named to the All-American High School Team.
After graduating from high school, Walker's fame spread far and wide, and many elite basketball schools threw olive branches to him. Eventually, on the advice of his high school coach, he chose the University of Connecticut as his basketball start. In college, he reached the national semi-finals as the nation's top seed in his freshman season, and although he lost to Rose's opponents, he was impressive enough. In his sophomore year, he made a comeback as the core of the team, with a comprehensive statistic of 42 points, 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a single game. Sadly, however, they once again stopped at the semi-finals. In his junior year, Walker led a group of new players to the tournament again, and made it all the way to the top, winning the national championship. His two strikes will forever go down in league history, not only being named to the All-American First Team, but also being named the Most Outstanding Player.
In 2011, Walker entered the NBA Draft with a basketball dream and was drafted by the Hornets (formerly the Bobcats) with the 9th pick in the first round, officially stepping into the temple of professional basketball. Starting his rookie season, he spent eight years with the Hornets, rising from the bench to the core of the team's starters. During this metamorphosis journey, he got better and better, helping the team break into the playoffs again years later. Since 2016, he has been the cornerstone of the team and ushered in the peak moment of his career. Not only did he become the team's all-time leading scorer, but he was also named to the All-Star team for three consecutive years, affectionately known as the "Queen Bee" by fans.
However, in the summer of 2019, the team's management was reluctant to offer Walker a contract with a maximum salary, and he eventually opted to join the Celtics. In the 2019-20 season, he continued his peak form and was once again selected as an All-Star starting point guard with outstanding performance. He averaged 20 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game to help the team reach the playoffs and make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. But in the final, he suffered a knee injury, so severe that it was difficult to walk. However, the coach insisted that he play with an injury, and the team was ultimately defeated. Walker took more than four months off for injury before returning to the game, but he was knocked down again by an injury in the playoffs and was eventually waived by the team and traded to the Thunder before being cut.
Walker chose to join his hometown team, the Knicks, but it was a turning point in his career. Due to his declining form, the Knicks were unable to guarantee his playing time, leading to a serious conflict between him and coach Thibodeau. Thibodeau, who preferred to defend, eventually opted to drop Walker. Subsequently, Walker was traded to the Pistons, and after moving to the Mavericks, he was completely unemployed and reduced to the point of not having the ball to play. The former basketball superstar is now looking for a rebirth on the European stage, and his basketball journey continues. We look forward to seeing him regain his former style and prove his worth in future competitions."
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