{"id":12177,"date":"2017-01-27T01:14:48","date_gmt":"2017-01-27T07:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=12177"},"modified":"2017-01-27T01:15:30","modified_gmt":"2017-01-27T07:15:30","slug":"kemba-hudley-walker-of-the-charlotte-hornets-of-the-national-basketball-association-named-eastern-conference-all-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=12177","title":{"rendered":"Kemba Hudley Walker, Of The Charlotte Hornets Of The National Basketball Association, Named Eastern Conference All-Star"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kemba_2017_All_Star_Email_Main_640x334\"On January 26, 2017 The NBA today announced that Hornets guard Kemba Walker has been selected as a reserve for the Eastern Conference in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, as voted by head coaches in the conference. It marks Walker\u2019s first career NBA All-Star selection.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently in his sixth season, the 26-year-old Walker is averaging career highs in points per game (23.0), field goals per game (8.2), field goal percentage (.456), three-point field goals per game (2.8) and three-point field goal percentage (.411). He has connected on the second-most three-pointers in the Eastern Conference this season (127) and ranks eighth in the conference in points per game.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kemba Hudley Walker (born May 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball<\/a> player for the Charlotte Hornets<\/a> of the National Basketball Association<\/a> (NBA). Walker was drafted ninth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2011 NBA draft<\/a>. Walker grew up in The Bronx<\/a>, New York<\/a>, and graduated from Rice High School<\/a> in 2008. Walker played college basketball for the Connecticut men’s basketball team<\/a>. In the 2010\u201311 season<\/a>, Walker was unanimously selected for the All-Big East first team, Walker was the second-leading college basketball scorer in the United States and led the Huskies to the 2011 Big East championship<\/a> and 2011 NCAA championship<\/a> and was named as the tournament’s most outstanding player for both championships.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker attended Rice High School<\/a> in Harlem<\/a>, New York<\/a>. In his junior year, Walker played against Simeon Career Academy<\/a> and senior guard Derrick Rose<\/a> in Madison Square Garden<\/a> in a 53\u201351 win. \u00a0During Walker’s senior year he averaged 18.2 points per game and 5.3 assists per game, earning him a spot on the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Team<\/a>. Walker played for the New York Gauchos AAU basketball program with fellow Big East<\/a> players Jordan Theodore, Darryl “Truck” Bryant, Devin Hill, and Danny Jennings. The team went on to finish #1 in the nation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com<\/a>, Walker was listed as the No. 5 point guard and the No. 14 player in the nation in 2008.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During his freshman year at UConn, Walker played in every game and was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team. He helped the Huskies achieve a number one seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament<\/a>. Despite starting in only two games he averaged 25.5 minutes per game, far more than any regular non-starter. \u00a0He also helped the Huskies go to the 2009 Final Four<\/a> with a 23-point effort in the Elite Eight<\/a> vs Missouri<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker played and started all 34 games in 2009\u201310 season. He contributed 14.6 points per game and led the Huskies in scoring for the eighth time in the last nine games of the season with 18 points at Virginia Tech. Walker was named First Team USBWA All-District. Connecticut earned a 4 seed in 2010 National Invitation Tournament, but fell short to Virginia Tech as the Huskies finished a disappointing season going 18\u201316 (7\u201311) in conference play.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker rose to national prominence in his junior year, twelve games into his junior campaign, Walker was the nation’s leading scorer, averaging 26.7 points per game. In addition, he averaged five rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Walker appeared on one of the six regional covers Sports Illustrated<\/a><\/i>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the 2011 Big East Tournament<\/a> (during his junior year), Walker hit the game winning shot as time expired to beat #3 overall Pittsburgh<\/a> and advance UConn to the semifinals. He led UConn to victory over University of Louisville<\/a> in the Big East Championship game and was named MVP for the tournament. Walker scored 130 points in five games, a Big East Tournament record and the most points scored in any conference tournament in the past 15 seasons. UConn became the first school to win five games in five days to earn a conference championship.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 14, 2011, The United States Basketball Writers Association named Walker a first team All-American. He was picked to the Second Team All-America by Fox Sports<\/a>. \u00a0He was also a finalist for College Basketball Player of the Year<\/a> honors due to his performance in the 2010\u201311 season. Although he finished second (to Jimmer Fredette<\/a>), two journalists thought that Walker was the best player in college basketball that year. Walker was named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award<\/a> for the top point guard in the nation. \u00a0On April 4, 2011 Walker led the University of Connecticut with 16 points in winning the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship<\/a>, and was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player<\/a>. Walker was added to the Huskies of Honor<\/a> upon the team’s return from Houston at a pep rally to celebrate the National Title. He became the first men’s basketball player to receive the honor since inaugural class was announced in December 2006.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker announced that he would leave UConn to enter the 2011 NBA draft<\/a> on April 12. Walker was selected 9th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats<\/a>. Walker signed a multi-year shoe deal with Under Armour<\/a>, the first rookie from the 2011 Draft Class to do so.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On December 11, 2011, he signed the rookie scale contract with the Bobcats, and with the injury of point guard D. J. Augustin<\/a>, he became their starting point guard. On January 28, 2012, in a home game against the Washington Wizards<\/a> he achieved his first triple-double<\/a> with 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, joining Boris Diaw<\/a> and Stephen Jackson<\/a> as the only Bobcats in team history to record one. Walker participated in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge<\/a> during All-Star Weekend<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On November 14, 2012, Walker hit his first game winner of his NBA career against the Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a>. \u00a0He finished the game with 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting, as well as 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. \u00a0On January 21, 2013, he scored a then career-high 35 points against the Houston Rockets<\/a>. During the 2012\u201313 season, Walker was selected with teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist<\/a> to the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge<\/a>. Walker scored 8 points.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kemba finished the 2012\u201313 season with averages of 17.7 points, 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2 steals a game. He took significant strides over his rookie year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On December 9, 2013, Walker scored 31 points, with 27 points coming in the second half, and scored the final 15 points to help the Bobcats defeat the Golden State Warriors<\/a>, 115\u2013111. \u00a0On December 18, 2013, he hit a buzzer-beating jump shot over Jonas Valan\u010di\u016bnas<\/a> in overtime to beat the Toronto Raptors. He finished the night with 26 points and 5 rebounds on 10\/18 shooting from the field. \u00a0On February 19, 2014, Walker recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists in a 116\u201398 win over the Detroit Pistons<\/a>. \u00a0Five days later, he was awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 22.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.5 rebounds during the week. In a home victory against the Orlando Magic on April 4, 2014, Walker recorded his second career triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker had a stellar game four in the Eastern Conference Playoffs first round against the Miami Heat<\/a> with teammate Al Jefferson<\/a> unable to play due to a Plantar fasciitis<\/a> injury. He finished the game with a playoff franchise high 29 points along with 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. The effort came in a loss as the Heat completed a four-game sweep of the Bobcats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the newly renamed Charlotte Hornets’ opening game against the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> on October 29, Walker led an impressive comeback in an overtime 108\u2013106 victory. The Hornets were 24 points down by the fourth quarter before staging a comeback; Walker scored a three-point shot with 1.6 seconds remaining to force overtime before hitting the game winning shot as well. He finished the game with 26 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. \u00a0The following day, he signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Hornets. \u00a0On December 5, 2014, Walker hit his second game-winner of the season in a 103\u2013102 win over the New York Knicks<\/a>. \u00a0On December 27, in a 94\u2013102 loss to the Orlando Magic<\/a>, he scored a then career-high 42 points, and set a franchise record for most points scored in a half in Charlotte Hornets franchise history with 35 in the second half. \u00a0On January 3 against the Orlando Magic, Walker scored 30 points to pass Kendall Gill<\/a> for 10th place on the Charlotte Hornets all-time scoring list with 4,160 points. \u00a0In three games played between January 3 and January 7, Walker scored 30 points in a win over the Orlando Magic<\/a>, 33 points in a win over the Boston Celtics<\/a>, and 31 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> to become one of four players (Larry Johnson<\/a>, Glen Rice<\/a> and Kelly Tripucka<\/a>) in Charlotte Hornets’ franchise history to ever put together a consecutive span of three or more 30-point plus games. Walker also hit his fifth game winner of his career and his third game winner of the season on January 7 in the 98\u201394 win over the Pelicans. On January 12, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 5 through Sunday, January 11. Over the week, he led the Hornets to a 4\u20130 record and averaged 30.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 36.2 minutes, while shooting .500 from the field (44\u201388), .364 from beyond the three-point line (8\u201322) and .893 from the free-throw line (25\u201328).<\/strong><\/p>\n

On November 23, 2015, Walker scored a then season-high 39 points in a 127\u2013122 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings. \u00a0On January 18, 2016, Walker set a career-high and a franchise-record with 52 points in a 124\u2013119 double overtime win over the Utah Jazz. He made 16-of-34 from the field, including 6-of-11 three-pointers, and was 14-of-15 from the free throw line, breaking the team mark of 48 points set by Glen Rice<\/a> in March 1997. On March 9, in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Walker became just the third Hornets player to make 500 career three-pointers, joining Dell Curry<\/a> (929) and Glen Rice<\/a> (508). \u00a0Five days later, he earned his fourth career Player of the Week award, and second of the 2015\u201316 season (first coming on January 25), \u00a0becoming just the sixth Charlotte player to win the award multiple times in the same season. \u00a0The Hornets finished the regular season as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 48\u201334 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Hornets faced the third-seeded Miami Heat, and in a Game 4 win on April 25, Walker scored a playoff career-high 34 points, helping the Hornets tie the series at 2\u20132. \u00a0He topped that mark in Game 6 of the series, scoring 37 points in a 97\u201390 loss, as the Heat tied the series at 3\u20133. \u00a0The Hornets went on to lose Game 7, bowing out of the playoffs with a 4\u20133 defeat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On November 4, 2016, Walker scored a season-high 30 points in a 99\u201395 win over the Brooklyn Nets<\/a>, helping Charlotte improve to 4\u20131 for the first time since 2000. \u00a0He topped that mark on November 11, recording 40 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 113\u2013111 loss to the Toronto Raptors<\/a>. \u00a0On December 29, with 22 points against the Miami Heat<\/a>, Walker recorded his 7,000th point with the Charlotte franchise when he hit a three-pointer with 4:16 left in the first quarter. He became the fourth player in franchise history to reach that mark, and became the second-quickest by doing so in his 396th game\u2014Larry Johnson<\/a> passed the mark in his 355th career game with the Hornets. \u00a0Walker’s 37-point effort against the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> on December 31 marked his 31st game of 30 points or more. The only Hornets player with more such games in team history is Glen Rice<\/a> with 54. \u00a0On January 2, 2017, he recorded 34 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in a 118\u2013111 loss to the Chicago Bulls<\/a>. He notched consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 2016.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker is the son of Paul and Andrea Walker. \u00a0His mother is a Crucian<\/a>, raised in Antigua<\/a> of Antiguan parentage, and his father is Antiguan. He has two brothers Akil and Keya and one sister Sharifa.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker grew up in the Sack-Wern Houses in Soundview, Bronx<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walker is also a dancer. He performed three times at the Apollo Theater<\/a> for the TV show Showtime at the Apollo<\/a><\/i>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On June 21, 2011, Walker released a mixtape in collaboration with DJ Skee<\/a> and Skee Sports. The mixtape features songs inspired by and inspiring to Walker.\"kemba-walker-nba-charlotte-hornets-detroit-pistons\"\"kemba-walker-nba-charlotte-hornets-atlanta-hawks-850x560-e1460754160281\"\"kemba-walker\"<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On January 26, 2017 The NBA today announced that Hornets guard Kemba Walker has been selected as a reserve for the Eastern Conference in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, as voted by head coaches in the conference. It marks Walker\u2019s first career NBA All-Star selection. Currently in his sixth season, the 26-year-old Walker is averaging […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8,1314,1456,1156,13,14,106,1,7,9,10],"tags":[1591,1596,1589,1592,1597,1594,1593,608,1590,21,1595,1397],"class_list":["post-12177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business","category-entertainment","category-global-business-entrepreneurs","category-global-news-updates-and-more","category-global-sports","category-health","category-most-commented","category-nba-sports-news","category-news","category-sports","category-us","category-world","tag-2011-big-east-championship-and-2011-ncaa-championship-and-was-named-as-the-tournaments-most-outstanding-player-for-both-championships","tag-2011-walker-led-the-university-of-connecticut-with-16-points-in-winning-the-ncaa-mens-division-i-basketball-championship","tag-2017-2017-nba-all-star","tag-all-big-east-first-team","tag-and-was-named-the-ncaa-basketball-tournament-most-outstanding-player","tag-first-team-usbwa-all-district","tag-five-star-recruit-by-rivals-com","tag-kemba-walker","tag-mcdonalds-all-american-team","tag-nba","tag-on-april-4","tag-the-charlotte-hornets","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12177\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}