Banished (c) by Tom Thibodeau last Monday, Kemba Walker had not yet expressed himself on this shelving. Signed this summer to be the starting point guard, and with the Knicks off to a great start, the former All-Star was the first fuse to blow. His defensive problems and his lack of rhythm convinced his coach that he was not the man for the job, and he is therefore stuck at the end of the bench.
“It was obviously difficult because I am a competitor. I like playing basketball “ he reacted after training on Monday. “I like being in the field, and this is the first time that this has happened to me in my career, whatever the level. But in the end, I have respect for Coach Thibs and his decision. It couldn’t have been easy, but it was his choice. I have no choice but to live with it. “
“I could be pissed off. I could be disappointed… ”
Praised by all for his human qualities, whether at the Hornets or the Celtics and today at the Knicks, Kemba Walker takes his troubles patiently, and he plays it collectively. “I’ve always been someone who thinks of the team first. It’s not about me, it’s about the team. If the coach thinks it will improve the team, then OK. I will be there for my teammates, and I am here to be of service in any way. “
To a reporter who asks him if he is ready to become a replacement for the Knicks, or if he prefers to be a starter elsewhere, he admits his doubts. « I’m not sure… We’ll see… I don’t know… »
While waiting to learn more, he keeps smiling because he takes to heart his role as a model for the youngest.
“I could be pissed off. I could be disappointed ” recalls Kemba Walker. “But in the end, there are young people here who admire me. I’m sure they wanted to see how I was going to react. Anyone on my team can find themselves in the same situation. Maybe I can be a role model in this regard. It’s hard, but at the end of the day, it’s not about me. I’m first of all a guy who thinks of the collective, I always have been and you can ask everyone with whom I have played. I have always been a team player first and foremost. I like being surrounded by my teammates. I’ll cheer them on until I can’t take it anymore. This is what it is about. “
| Kemba Walker | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | NO | 66 | 27 | 36.6 | 30.5 | 78.9 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 12.1 |
| 2012-13 | NO | 82 | 35 | 42.3 | 32.2 | 79.8 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 17.7 |
| 2013-14 | NO | 73 | 36 | 39.3 | 33.3 | 83.7 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 17.7 |
| 2014-15 | NO | 62 | 34 | 38.5 | 30.4 | 82.7 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 17.3 |
| 2015-16 | NO | 81 | 36 | 42.7 | 37.1 | 84.7 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | NO | 79 | 35 | 44.3 | 39.9 | 84.7 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 23.2 |
| 2017-18 | NO | 80 | 34 | 43.1 | 38.4 | 86.4 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 22.1 |
| 2018-19 | NO | 82 | 35 | 43.4 | 35.6 | 84.4 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | BUNCH | 56 | 31 | 42.5 | 38.1 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 20.5 |
| 2020-21 | BUNCH | 43 | 32 | 42.0 | 36.0 | 89.9 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 19.3 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 18 | 25 | 42.9 | 41.3 | 80.0 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 11.7 |
| Total | 722 | 34 | 41.9 | 36.1 | 84.0 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 19.7 | |
