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Kemba Walker proves the haters wrong in 2018 All-Star Game

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In an already entertainingly packed season of NBA drama and action, the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend was jam full of dunks, laughs, and gaffes. The dunk-contest proved to be thrilling and the three-point contest was graced with a new scoring record set by guard Devin Booker. Overall, it was a good weekend and it was well worth the wait.

Among the star-studded lineup was a “smalltime” star in Kemba Walker. He did not participate in any of the events on Saturday this year, as he was part of the three-point contest last year, but he did play in the actual game. The game itself was a little different this year with LeBron James making it a point that he wanted to game to be an actual contest.

Feb 18, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Team LeBron guard Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets (15) shoots against Team Stephen guard DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors (10) in the first half during the 2018 NBA All Star game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Nelson/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports Images

The game ended 148-145, with LeBron’s team getting the dub over Steph Curry’s team, making Kemba an All-Star champion. The game featured far less insane dunks and alley-oops than it normally does, with simple transition layups and traditional post play accounting for a majority of the scoring.

Nobody had too impressive of a stat line, with LeBron earning MVP honors with 29 points, eight assists, and 10 rebounds. Other than King James, only two other players dropped 20 points in a relatively boring All-Star game in my opinion.

If you compare Walker’s stats to the rest of his All-Star companions, he had a pretty good game. He scored 11 points off of 50% shooting with one assist and two rebounds in only 14 minutes. Walker also recorded zero turnovers and no personal fouls, joining Paul George and Joel Embiid as the only players to score 10 or more points and record no turnovers.

Walker received some heat from center Embiid the day before All-Star Weekend, with the Philly big man claiming he didn’t understand why Walker was selected as a reserve over rookie Ben Simmons. Embiid said he understood how center Andre Drummond and point guard Goran Dragic were put in after injuries but argued that Walker didn’t deserve it.

Walker’s performance was not elite in any shape, but it was solid. Not only was it solid, but he out-performed Dragic (Two points, four rebounds) in scoring and assists. He threw up one of the only highlight reel alley-oops to LeBron in an otherwise mundane game and had a couple of great looking isolation plays. He proved Mr. Embiid wrong.

Kemba Walker showed that he at least deserved to be there and that his game is as good as anyones. Walker is still carrying the Charlotte Hornets through their miserable 24-33 season and while the trade deadline has passed, the rumors that almost got him traded have not died in my mind.

The Charlotte franchise had not had a consecutive All-Star selection since Glen Rice from 1997-1998. Walker is continuing to put his stake in almost every offensive record book for the Hornets and he isn’t slowing down. I know the team is unlikely to trade Walker now, but I think fans should be on guard. Rumors like that don’t help a relationship between a player and an organization.

Kemba proved his worth with his small amount of time in the All-Star game and he is only going to get better as the years pass. The only question is whether Michael Jordan and his staff are committed enough to keep him.

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The post Kemba Walker proves the haters wrong in 2018 All-Star Game appeared first on isportsweb.


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