Kemba Walker, 4-Time NBA All-Star, Announces Retirement
Kemba Walker, a four-time NBA All-Star point guard, announced his retirement on Tuesday, expressing gratitude for the "incredible journey" that basketball has taken him on.
Walker was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, which was won by UConn. Shortly after, he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the ninth overall pick in the NBA draft.
He spent eight seasons with the Hornets before signing a lucrative four-year, $141 million contract with the Boston Celtics in July 2019 as part of a sign-and-trade deal.
After two seasons with the Celtics, Walker was traded and released twice before finishing his career with brief stints with the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.
At the age of 34, Walker also played overseas in Monaco during the 2023-24 season. He finishes his NBA career with impressive averages of 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 33.1 minutes in 750 games (697 starts). He was selected to four consecutive All-Star Games from 2017-20 and was named to the All-NBA third team for the 2018-19 season.
In a social media post, the 6-foot guard expressed his gratitude for the impact basketball has had on his life, saying, "Basketball has given me more than I could have ever imagined, and I am incredibly grateful for the journey I've had."
Walker also reflected on his achievements in the sport, saying, "When I look back, I still can't believe all that I've accomplished in my career... Basketball will always be a part of my life, so this is not a goodbye. I am excited for what the future holds."
