A couple of weeks ago, Kemba Walker announced his retirement from the NBA after playing 12 seasons in the league.
The day after that announcement, the Charlotte Hornets, the franchise he spent the majority of his career with, hired him as a player enhancement coach.
According to Evan Sidery, Walker said that a big reason he took the job was the opportunity to work with guard LaMelo Ball and the potential he gives the team.
“If that kid stays healthy, this organization has a chance to go really far,” Walker said.
Hornets legend Kemba Walker said having the opportunity to work with LaMelo Ball was a big reason why he accepted a role on their coaching staff:
“If that kid stays healthy, this organization has a chance to go really far.”
Walker will be a huge asset in Ball’s development. pic.twitter.com/jfgqbsTlHp
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 17, 2024
Walker averaged 19.3 points and 5.3 assists per game during his playing career and was known as a quick guard who could penetrate and hit from the outside.
Ball is a different type of ball-handling guard — he’s 6-foot-7, while Walker is 6-foot, and Ball isn’t quite as quick or as much of a slashing threat as Walker was.
But there is no doubt Ball has legitimate star potential.
In four NBA seasons, the 22-year-old has averaged 20.0 points and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 37.4 percent from 3-point range. This past season, he was at 23.9 points and 8.0 assists per game, though he made just 22 appearances.
In fact, his main problem is staying healthy. He has played in just 58 games over the past two seasons and a total of 184 games in his four years in the league.
But when he has been healthy, he has played well, and the Hornets’ faint hopes of becoming a competitive team anytime soon rest on his shoulders.
It now will be partly up to Walker to help Ball realize his full potential.
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