After completing 12 seasons in the NBA across four teams, four-time NBA All-Star guard Kemba Walker has decided to retire. He made the announcement on Tuesday via his social media, sharing a statement alongside the news.
Walker expressed gratitude towards God, basketball, his parents, coaches, teammates, and others. He concluded his statement by saying, “Basketball will always be a part of me, so this isn’t farewell. I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
Walker was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats, largely due to his iconic buzzer-beater while playing for the UConn Huskies in the Big East Tournament. His collegiate success continued as he led UConn to an unexpected NCAA Tournament victory in 2011, earning him recognition as the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.
During his eight seasons with Charlotte, Walker averaged 19.8 points and 5.5 assists per game across 605 appearances, ultimately becoming the franchise’s first player to surpass 10,000 career points. He earned All-Star honors three times during his tenure with the team.
In 2019, Walker joined the Boston Celtics through a sign-and-trade deal but faced challenges, including injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his playing time to 99 games over two seasons. Despite this, he earned an All-Star selection in his first year with the Celtics. In 2021, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and later signed with the New York Knicks, where he notably achieved a triple-double during a Christmas Day victory over the Atlanta Hawks in 2021.
Walker’s career continued with the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, though he played only nine games before being waived. He then spent a season in Monaco before retiring from professional basketball.
