Saturday night was an emotional one for New York Knicks point guard Kemba Walker. It was the first time that he was playing in Boston since the team traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who subsequently bought him out leading to his signing with the Knicks in the NBA offseason.
Saturday also ended what was likely the longest Walker had ever gone without playing in a basketball game that wasn’t injury-related. The Connecticut product hadn’t played in a game with the Knicks since November 26th as head coach Tom Thibodeau removed him from the rotation after that.
Walker didn’t play in the Knicks’ win over the Atlanta Hawks the next day as he was rested on the second night of a back-to-back set.
Ahead of the team’s next game, Thibodeau announced that Alec Burks would be taking over as starting point guard and Walker was removed from the rotation.
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It was a tough decision, but Walker took it in stride. He wants what is best for the team and isn’t going to cause a commotion because his role changed. But, following Saturday’s game, Walker shared some raw emotions about the situation.
“I hate it,” Walker said of not being in the lineup the past few weeks. “I want to play.
“It is what it is. Guys went down. I got to fill in. Do what I can until they get back.”
Walker was reinserted into the starting lineup against the Celtics because the Knicks were without nearly half of their roster.
Six players, Obi Toppin, RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Knox II, Immanuel Quickley and Duece McBride, were sidelined in the league’s health and safety protocols. Derrick Rose, who had started the previous three games, was out with a sore ankle.
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The benching is the latest in what has been a difficult stretch for Walker in his basketball career. His tenure with the Celtics was marred by knee issues, which in large part is why he ended up with the New York Knicks at all.
“It’s definitely been a rough couple years, to be honest,” Walker said. “But, you know, when you get a chance to kind of slow down and think about things, myself, you know, I think it’s just some adversity. At some point in life, everyone goes through tough times.
“I’ve had a great career thus far, and a lot of things went my way. It’s a tough time right now, so it’s really about just showing my character, showing who I really am. I’m so mentally tough, I feel like I’m built for any situation, and I’m going to handle it the best I can. I’ve got a great support system, great family, great friends who help me stay humble and stay grounded, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do. Just try to be unbreakable and continue to put my work in and just stay ready for anything that comes my way.”
Walker has remained a consummate professional throughout it all with the Knicks. He can be seen leading the cheers for his teammates from the sidelines despite those same teammates being the ones who are getting his minutes at the point guard position.
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How Walker has handled things makes Knick fans appreciate him even more. He scored a season-high 29 points against the Celtics on Saturday, showing that he still has plenty left in the tank to give.
The Bronx native should have a few more opportunities to show out with the New York Knicks having so many players on the sidelines. If he heads back to the bench after that, expect him to handle it with as much grace as he did this time.
