Four-Time All-Star, UConn Great Kemba Walker Retires

Connecticut's Kemba Walker averaged 23.5 points per game in leading UConn to the 2011 National Championship. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Kemba Walker is saying goodbye to a storied career.

The four-time All-Star is retiring after 12 seasons in the NBA. Walker was also a standout player at the University of Connecticut and helped lead the Huskies to a National Championship in 2011 when he averaged scoring 23.5 points per game.

“I want to start this by thanking God for everything he has given me,” Walker said on social media. “Basketball has done more for me than I could’ve ever imagined, and I am super thankful for the amazing journey I’ve had. With that, I’m here to share that I am officially retiring from the game of basketball. This has all been a dream. When I look back, I still can’t believe the things I achieved in my career.”

Walker was a star player for Rice High School, a dominant basketball program in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. He averaged 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game and was named a 2008 McDonald’s High School All-American. He also made the 2008 Under-18 USA Team and was the FIBA Americas Tournament MVP after averaging 13.4 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds.

Walker then played collegiately at UConn, appearing in 111 career games and averaging 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals.

As a junior in 2010–11, he was the only player to start all 41 games and received numerous accolades, including being named a unanimous First Team All-American, the Bob Cousy Award Winner as the nation’s top point guard, and the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Walker also set a new UConn single-season record with 965 points.

In 2010, Walker was one of 10 collegiate athletes named to the USA Select Team that trained with the U.S. National Team from August 10–13 in preparation for the 2010 World Championships.

After declaring for the NBA Draft following that stellar junior season, Walker was selected No. 9 overall by the then-Charlotte Bobcats. He spent his eight seasons in Charlotte and made three All-Star appearances, was named an All-NBA Second Team, and helped the franchise make the playoffs in 2014 and 2016. The Charlotte franchise has not made the postseason since Walker was dealt to the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade deal in 2019.

Walker is still the Hornets’ all-time franchise leader with 12,009 points. He also leads the franchise leader in 15 different categories, including minutes played (20,607), field goals (4,164), three-point field goals (1,283), and free throws (2,398).

Walker continued to be a productive player in Boston and was an All-Star during his first season with the Celtics. He also helped the team reach the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat in the conference finals in the Bubble in Orlando.

However, Walker dealt with various injuries, including knee soreness. Those ailments continued to plague him throughout the rest of his NBA career.

The following season in 2020-2021, Walker was limited to 43 of the Celtics’ 72 games. He averaged 19.3 points, four rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

“Thank you Kemba Walker for inspiring me and so many others around the globe,” Danny Ainge, the former executive director of Basketball Operations for the Celtics and former NBA All-Star, wrote on social media.

After the 2021 season, Walker was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who later bought out Walker’s contract. Walker then signed with the New York Knicks and averaged 11.6 points and 3.5 assists over just 37 games because of injuries

After just one season with the Knicks, Walker was to Detroit in the offseason and the Pistons also bought out of his deal.

On Nov. 28, 2022, Walker reached a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Walker managed a season-high 32 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in a 100–99 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 17, 2022. However, the Mavericks waived Walker just one month later.

Over 750 career NBA games, Walker averaged 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Last season, Walker signed with LNB Pro A and EuroLeague club AS Monaco in France. He made his debut on Oct. 18 and scored two points in 10 minutes in a EuroLeague victory over Crvena Zvezda. However, Walker decided the injuries were too difficult and he decided to officially retire from basketball this week.

Walker is undecided about what’s next in his career. He could be an asset to a college or NBA coaching staff, and he alluded that he would like to remain in basketball in some capacity. There have been numerous tributes to him on social media and he will be remembered as a solid player who helped his teams win throughout his solid career.

He was gracious to all those who supported him over his entire basketball career in his retirement message.

“I know I couldn’t have made it to this point without my incredible support system around me,” Walker said. “There are so many people to thank—my mom, dad and entire family, my teammates who have become family, and the coaches who believe in me and brought out the best in me.

“Basketball will forever be a part of my life so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s next.”