Kemba Walker is asking it a profession.
The four-time NBA All-Star and Bronx native introduced his retirement on Tuesday after 12 NBA seasons. The 34-year-old spent this previous season with French group AS Monaco.
“This has all been a dream,” Walker stated in an announcement revealed on social media. “Once I look again, I nonetheless can’t consider the issues I achieved in my profession.
“I do know I couldn’t have made it so far with out my unbelievable assist system round me. There are such a lot of individuals to thank — my mother, dad and whole household, my teammates who’ve turn out to be household, and the coaches who believed in me and introduced out the most effective in me.
“Basketball will perpetually be part of my life so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s subsequent.”
Walker, who appeared in 37 video games for the Knicks throughout the 2021-22 season, noticed his profession derailed by accidents the final a number of seasons. He completed his NBA profession with 19.3 factors, 5.3 assists and three.8 rebounds per recreation.
He was a nationwide champion and All-American at UConn in 2011, averaging 23.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists throughout his junior 12 months.
One among his signature moments got here within the Huge East Event quarterfinals that 12 months, when he hit a game-winning shot on the buzzer to upset Pittsburgh, prompting an iconic name from ESPN’s Dave Pasch.
“Cardiac Kemba does it once more!” Pasch exclaimed.
The then-Charlotte Bobcats drafted Walker at No. 9 total in 2011 and starred for the membership, which obtained its Hornets title again in 2014, for eight seasons.
He averaged a career-high 25.6 factors per recreation in 2018-19, his ultimate season in Charlotte and the third of his 4 consecutive All-Star nods.
After two seasons with the Celtics, he was traded to and subsequently waived by the Thunder, and the Knicks then signed him as a free agent.
The Rice HS product had a number of electrical moments on the Backyard, together with a 44-point barrage towards the Wizards on Dec. 23, 2021 adopted by a triple-double on Christmas, knee points restricted his availability and manufacturing, and in February 2022 he and the Knicks agreed he wouldn’t play for the remainder of the season.
The Knicks traded Walker to the Pistons two years in the past, and he was purchased out by Detroit.
He signed with the Mavericks that November however was waived in January 2023 after making 9 appearances for Dallas.
