Once a franchise player and max-salary player, former Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker has signed a one-year deal with AS Monaco. Walker joins a team that just won the French Basketball Cup in April–their first one in the team’s history. With AS Monaco being a EuroLeague club, Kemba Walker makes his move overseas for the first time in his career. Does this officially signal the end of the four-time All-Star’s NBA career?
Former Celtics Guard Kemba Walker Signs With AS Monaco
Kemba Walker’s NBA Career
Walker was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the ninth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of UConn. The former NCAA champion had a successful career with the Bobcats/Hornets. In eight seasons with the franchise, Walker was named an All-Star three times and made All-NBA Third team in 2019–his final season in Charlotte. Walker is currently the franchise’s leading scorer with 12,009 points scored with the team.
In 2019, Kemba Walker made his way to Boston through a sign-and-trade. Walker received a four-year contract worth $141 million. Coming off his first ever All-NBA nod, Walker was meant to replace Kyrie Irving. Irving left Boston for the Brooklyn Nets during the same offseason.
Walker was named an All-Star during his first year with the Celtics and played well in the 2020 playoffs. However, his time in Boston is seen mostly as a disappointment due to his injuries and poor fit. Walker only played in Boston for two seasons. In 99 games with the Celtics, he averaged 19.9 PPG and 4.8 APG.
In June 2021, the Celtics sent Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade that saw the team re-acquire Al Horford in return. Walker was bought out by the Thunder and went on to sign with his hometown team, the New York Knicks. The former All-Star only played in 37 games for the Knicks before getting traded to the Detroit Pistons in the 2022 offseason.
Once again, Walker was bought out by the Pistons and eventually signed with the Dallas Mavericks in November 2022. Despite showing out in the lone game he started for Dallas against the Cleveland Cavaliers where he scored 32 points, Walker was waived in January 2023. He only played in nine games for the Mavericks and hasn’t signed with another NBA team since.
Is This the End for Kemba Walker in the NBA?
Walker is currently 33 years old and has had trouble staying healthy. The last full season Walker played was in the 2018-2019 season with the Hornets. This was when he was 28 years old. Although signing a deal for an overseas team may not immediately signal the end of Walker’s NBA career, it doesn’t bode well for him.
The Hornets’ franchise scorer was once known for his elite offense, but it’s evident that this version of Kemba Walker is stuck in the past. Pair this with his injuries and inconsistent defense, and it becomes very likely Walker never plays in the NBA again. And even if Kemba Walker ever returns to the NBA, it’s fair to assume it wouldn’t be as anything more than a depth piece.
If this is the end of his NBA career, however, Walker can consider it a successful one. Walker likely won’t make it to the Hall of Fame, but he was very fun to watch for nearly a decade in the NBA. He is arguably the greatest player in Charlotte’s franchise’s history and was an elite point guard for a few seasons. He now takes his talents overseas in hopes of keeping his playing career alive with AS Monaco.
