After 13 seasons, including 12 in the NBA, four-time All-Star Kemba Walker has announced his retirement from basketball. Walker played for several teams throughout his career, including the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks.
Kemba Walker, the ninth overall pick out of UConn in 2011 by the Charlotte Bobcats, has announced his retirement from basketball after 13 seasons, 12 of which came in the NBA. Walker posted a lengthy statement on social media, declaring his decision to end his playing days.
"I want to start this by thanking God for everything he has given me," Walker wrote in his statement. "Basketball has done more for me than I could’ve ever imagined, and I am super thankful for the amazing journey I’ve had."
NBA Legend Kemba Walker Announces Retirement
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."
As is customary with a retirement statement, Walker thanked those who impacted him all these years.
NBA Legend Kemba Walker Announces Retirement
"I know I couldn't have made it to this point without my incredible support system around me," Walker said in the statement. "There are so many people to thank — my mom, dad and entire family, my teammates who have become family, and the coaches who believed 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."
NBA Legend Kemba Walker Announces Retirement
Walker, 34, played overseas in his final season this past year for Monaco in EuroLeague, totaling 4.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game over 26 contests.
Before that, Walker’s role in the NBA had been diminishing, playing just 37 games in his homecoming to New York with the Knicks during the 2021-22 campaign and playing just nine games with the Dallas Mavericks the following year.
However, Walker, a pure scorer during his days with the Huskies, brought that immediately to the Bobcats when he joined the league.
Today, Walker remains Charlotte’s all-time leading scorer with 12,009 points, which he totaled over eight seasons as they transitioned to the Hornets.
Walker’s best years came from 2016-20, where he earned four consecutive All-Star nods and third-team All-NBA during his final season in Charlotte during the 2018-19 campaign when he had a career-high 25.6 points per game.
Walker would move on to the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade deal before the 2019-20 season, where his All-Star status continued with 20.4 points and 4.9 assists per game.
However, injuries would start to derail Walker’s career a bit after signing with Boston. He played just 43 of a possible 72 games the following season after being as durable as any guard in the league in previous years. Walker missed just 35 games total over his first eight seasons.
But when healthy, Walker was simply a bucket, having the ability to score anywhere on the floor.
His nickname, "Cardiac Kemba," was developed in college with his knack for scoring in clutch moments, including an iconic stepback jumper against Pitt in the 2011 Big East Quarterfinal that saw UConn win at the buzzer.
They would go on to win the tournament and the subsequent NCAA Tournament over Butler that year.
For his NBA career, Walker averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41.8% from the field.
