Kemba Walker Goes OFF After Three Weeks On Bench: "I Still Have A Lot To Give"

 

Three weeks ago, New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau made the decision to pull Kemba Walker from the rotation. He hadn't played a single minute since then. Until Saturday night. Due to a lack of available bodies, Kemba blasted back onto the scene by dropping 29 points in the Knicks' close loss to his former team, the Boston Celtics.

Kemba did his thing in his first game back in the rotation 👏

🔸 29 PTS
🔸 6 REB
🔸 5-11 3-PT FG pic.twitter.com/XpaNZfSc30

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2021

He added 6 rebounds, 5 three-pointers, and had a team-high plus-5 in 37 minutes. 

"It feels great... I don't know what the future holds," said Walker after the game. "I do feel like I have a lot to give still."

The ultimate true professional, the always-classy Kemba added, "Whatever situation I'm in, I'm gonna stay locked in, stay prepared. Whatever the team needs from me, I'll be there for them."

Walker was pulled from the Knicks rotation at the end of November; Thibodeau said with Alec Burks starting, he couldn't play three small guards off the bench. Kemba was the odd man out. 

The 4-time NBA All-Star was inserted back into the lineup after the Knicks were left with no other point guards, and a slew of other players out as well.  Derrick Rose was out with ankle soreness while six others are listed in COVID health & safety protocols: Immanuel Quickley, Miles McBride, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox II and Obi Toppin. 

The Knicks went 2-7 in the nine games Walker was buried on the bench, so perhaps Thibodeau may rethink his lineup going forward. 

Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports