Kemba Walker named to Hornets coaching staff

Field Level Media|published: Wed 3rd July, 14:57 2024

NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves

Dec 21, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kemba Walker (34) reacts to his shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second period at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Kemba Walker was named to the Charlotte Hornets coaching staff on Wednesday, one day after announcing his retirement from the NBA.

A four-time All-Star point guard, Walker was named player enhancement coach on new head coach Charles Lee's staff.

The Hornets announced Lamar Skeeter, Josh Longstaff, Chris Jent, Blaine Mueller, Ryan Frazier, Matt Hill and Jermaine Bucknor as Lee's assistant coaches, with Skeeter as his lead assistant. Skeeter spent the past 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz, rising to top assistant.

Walker was selected No. 9 overall by the Hornets in the 2011 draft.

He played eight seasons in Charlotte before signing a four-year, $141 million contract in July 2019 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics.

After two seasons with the Celtics, he bounced around the NBA and was traded and released twice before finishing his career with short stints with the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.

Walker, 34, played overseas in Monaco in the 2023-24 season and ended his NBA career with averages of 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 33.1 minutes in 750 games (697 starts). He earned four straight All-Star nods from 2017-20, and was All-NBA third team for the 2018-19 season.

--Field Level Media