At this point it seems to be a weekly occurrence. You know, when you get a notification on your phone or you’re on Twitter to see that Kemba Walker is putting his team on his back with a brilliant display of shot-making from all areas of the floor. Unfortunately for Walker and the Hornets, his efforts come up short of a win on many occasions.
As Walker approaches unrestricted free agency at age 29, he is having a career year, posting a Stephen Curry-esque stat line of 28.7 points and 6.1 assists per game. Walker has increased his 3-point attempt rate, attempting over 10 shots from beyond the arc per game. While Walker has stepped up his scoring (28.7 marks a career-high by a wide margin – 23.2 points per game was his previous high), he has also improved his rebounding to a career-high 4.5 per game. His 6.1 assists per game ties a previous career-high set back in the 2013/14 season.
For the most part, this strong start isn’t a result of unsustainable shooting from all areas of the court. Walker’s 3-point shooting has actually dipped slightly to 37.7 percent (from 38.4 percent last season) and Walker is only hitting 53.8 percent from within three feet of rim, down from 57.1 percent last season.
What has boosted Walker’s scoring (besides his increase in 3-point attempts) has been some insane shooting in the mid-range. Walker has hit 51.7 percent of shots within 10 and 16 feet of the rim, and an even more staggering 66.7 percent on shots within 16 feet of the rim and the 3-point line.
Walker has been a deadly scorer for several years now, but it looks as if he is poised to become one of the best scorers in the league this season, perhaps even vying for a scoring title. Unfortunately it seems he will have this scoring success on a middling Hornets team that will be in the running for a low playoff seed, which could certainly affect Walker’s decision in free agency as he looks to balance winning with staying loyal to the Hornets.
After Walker’s start to the season, where would you rank him in the NBA? Do you believe he is a top 15, 20, 25 player? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
He’s already Charlotte’s best franchise player. If he stays he’ll probably never win a title there but he’ll be a legend in Charlotte. Kinda feel like Anthony Davis is going to have a similar situation in a couple of years with New Orleans too.
Anthony davis has good players around him, kemba has legit nobody
Let’s see… they offer stupid money to Batum, who accepts without blinking. And there is a mulling over offering Kemba a max deal?
The roster is terrible though. You basically have to get through 1 more year of mediocrity until Biyombo, MKG, and Williams are off the books. I wouldn’t resign anyone else. Just max out Kemba and tank your hearts out.
Trade Lamb, he’s your only ‘asset’ b/c of the POs for the other 3 and Monk being a bust.
Ooooo dionis is gonna get you for saying that
I was so high on Monk, dude was lethal in HS and in College… then on lottery selection night I saw him next to a non-athlete female reporter… and realized my mom is taller than him and I lost all faith. The only saving grace was that he could shoot 40% from 3… but he’s shooting sub 30% so yea bust city.
Damion, Kemba, and Kyrie are the 3 best point guards in the NBA to this point in the season with Steph being injured. Kemba will sign a max contract with Charlotte this summer. Kemba and management have been saying he’s their future since they spoke early this season. A lot of people don’t listen so they can print a story. The best team in North Carolina, Duke, plays on ESPN2 at 4:30 pm Monday.
Is that 4 Eastern or Pacific?
That’s eastern time.
if mngt wants to build a contender they’ll tear it down
Kemba is for sure gonna be maxed. The rest of the team are pretty awful, the only one who is doing very well despite low minutes is Willy, his numbers for the time played are pretty good, maybe one day Borrego will realize that he is lights out better than Zeller & finally put him on the starting 5, but apart of that, is only Miles doing good for a rookie. The rest are just not good enough.
Why blame Borrego? Willy has only ever played bench minutes, sometimes deep bench. Zeller is a top 5 pick who works with teammates.
Deleted a few comment threads that were entirely unrelated to Kemba and the Hornets. Let’s try to keep it on-topic and avoid the insults.
I read articles about sports from about everywhere, X%sure’s abuse makes me want to not come here. I try to provide factual information that people like t read from popular websites. X%sure abuses me every time. I get your info from other sites. It’s really stupid for me to come here for what I have to take from these guys. As I said I have the same opinion as “a lot” of guys that read the Plain Dealer. My opinions come from them. These guys won’t talk to the Plain Dealer this way. The Plain Dealer would ban x%sure. My stuff is to benefit readers who don’t have time to read the entire web. X%sure makes me want to stop thinking about him, and appreciate the others. Eventually x%sure will drive me away for good.
So do that, and not so much the buggy repetitive stuff. Fresh news.
One can only hope that he does…
To be clear, I was referring to Ptn’s reporting plan with “So do it”, not the leaving plan.
I would be incredible playing close to home for the Knicks or Nets!