Hornets Legend Kemb Walker Announces Retirement With Heartfelt Message

Charlotte Hornets legend Kemba Walker officially announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, ending an influential and storied career.

The 9th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft is considered the best player in franchise history, having been selected to the Charlotte All-Star team three times (four total) and having been named to the All-NBA Third Team once. He is the organization’s all-time leading scorer (12,009) and holds numerous franchise records.

Walker’s contributions to the game weren’t limited to his time in Charlotte. His flawless March Madness run that led Connecticut to the NCAA championship in 2011 remains one of the most magical tournament performances in recent memory.

No. 15 rightfully holds 15 Hornets all-time records:

Walker had a spectacular career by any measure. He played for Charlotte from 2011 to 2019 before spending time with the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.

He finished his playing career in Monaco, but also played for the United States in the FIBA ​​league. Although Walker never led the Hornets to playoff success, losing twice in the first round, one can only imagine what the history of the franchise would be without him.

“I’m here to announce that I am officially retiring from basketball,” Walker said in his announcement. “When I look back, I still can’t believe the things I’ve accomplished in my career… Basketball will always be a part of my life, so this isn’t goodbye. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Nicknamed “Cardiac Kemba” for his exploits in the NCAA Tournament, Walker’s step-back shot became a defining play of his basketball era. His game-winning shot in the 2011 Big East Tournament final is my favorite shot in basketball history, so much so that I named my dog ​​after him.

Sometimes, an athlete’s individual success and confidence outweigh the success of a team. Walker won a college title and never reached those heights again, even though his style of play attracted fans around the world.

I will remember Kemba as one of my favorite athletes of all time. He averaged 19.8 points, 5.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds with Charlotte, but his impact was much greater than just statistics.

Thank you, Kemba. You are a legend forever and as a fan of the game, I am happy to have seen you compete.

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