19 Oct GETTING TO KNOW NEW YORK KNICKS POINT GUARD KEMBA WALKER
FACTS:
Name: Kemba Hudley Walker
Born: May 8, 1990 (age 31) in The Bronx, New York
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Listed Weight: 184 lb
High School: Rice (Manhattan, New York)
College: UConn (2008-2011)
NBA Draft: 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats
2021 Salary: $8,729,020
Wears: #8 in memory of Kobe Bryant
This past summer,
all star point guard
Kemba Walker signed
a two-year deal with
his hometown team,
the New York Knicks.
The four-time all-star
immediately lifted the Knicks’ ceiling,
as a new offensive weapon for a team
that became known last year for its
defense.
How does it feel to be playing for
your hometown team, the Knicks
in Madison Square Garden?
It’s a great feeling. I’m super excited.
Just growing up here seeing all the
billboards of players that I grew up
admiring & now seeing myself up
there is an unbelievable feeling. The
fans of the Garden are the best fans
in the world!
Is this the right time in your career
to become a Knick and are you
feeling any added pressure?
I think it is. Everything. Perfect
timing. I’m feeling really
motivated. Super excited that
these guys have belief in me.
That’s all I need. I just need
somebody to believe in me.
These guys do, and I appreciate
that. This feeling has been like
no other. Just randomly getting
goosebumps. It’s an unbelievable
feeling to be able to come home.
As far as added pressure—I
don’t think so. As long as I’m in a
great environment around great
people I’ll be fine.
What drives you?
It’s a mixture of many things, that
include naysayers & guys who
doubt you … that’ s what drives me.
What makes a player a clutch
player?
A clutch player is a guy who just
makes the right play at the right
time. Everybody thinks maybe it’s
just because you make the last
shot, that’s not always considered
a clutch player. A clutch player is
somebody who makes the right
play, somebody who’s calm, cool
and collected in pressure moments.
Who would you say is your
favorite point guard of all time?
Definitely, Tim Hardaway. He is my
favorite point guard of all time. He
was relentless, and he had a killer
crossover.
What are your goals this season?
Stay healthy, play as many games as
I can, contribute as best as I can, just
help these young guys, be here and
lead. Whatever they need me to do.
What would your message to
Knicks fans be about Kemba
Walker and when they can expect
a championship?
I think they know me pretty well.
It’s gonna be fun. I’m gonna give it
every-everything I got. Every time
I step on the court I’m gonna play
super-hard, 110 percent. As far as a
championship, I can’t put a time or
date on it, but just know that we’re
gonna be working towards that
goal, Hard. Very hard.