Four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker announces retirement after 12 seasons
Four-time NBA All-Star guard Kemba Walker has ended his basketball career after playing overseas last season.
The 34-year-old Walker, who played in the EuroLeague at AS Monaco in the past 12 months, announced his decision on social media on Tuesday.
Walker averaged 19.3 points in 750 regular season games for the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets (2011-19), Boston Celtics (2019-21), New York Knicks (2021-22) and Dallas Mavericks (2023).
He made four consecutive All-Star Game appearances from 2017 to 2020 and was selected to the NBA’s Third Team in the 2018–19 season, his final year with Charlotte.
That followed a stellar college career at UConn. Walker led UConn to a national title in 2011 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year.
Kemba Walker’s NBA career began to go downhill due to injuries during his time in Boston
The 34-year-old point guard is fondly remembered for UConn’s 2011 NCAA Championship run
“I know I wouldn’t have gotten to this point without the incredible support system around me,” Walker wrote on X.
‘There are so many people I have to thank: my mother, father and my entire family, my teammates who have become family to me, and the coaches who believed in me and brought out the best in me.
“Basketball will always be a part of my life, so this is not goodbye. I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Walker, the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, played eight seasons in Charlotte before signing a four-year, $141 million contract with the Celtics in July 2019 as part of a sign-and-trade deal.
Walker thrived with the Hornets, making three consecutive All-Star Game appearances from 2017 through 2019
After two injury-plagued seasons with the Celtics, he switched players in the NBA, was traded and cut twice, but finished his career in the league with short stints in New York and Dallas.
Last season, Walker, a two-time NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, averaged just 4.4 points per game in Monaco.
“Basketball has done more for me than I could ever imagine and I am so grateful for the amazing journey I have been able to take,” the 6-foot-3 guard said on social media.
‘Looking back, I still can’t believe all I’ve achieved in my career…’