Boston, MA - 10/25/2019 - (4th quarter) Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8) was pumped after the Celtics took a 110-106 lead on a 25 foot three pointer by Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7), not pictured, late in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics host the Toronto Raptors in the teams' home opener at TD Garden. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Sports, Reporter: Adam Himmelsbach, Topic: 26Celtics-Raptors, LOID: 9.0.1214463522.
Kemba Walker has never considered the New York Knicks. Before ending up at the Boston Celtics, we all believed that the Knicks had taken Kemba Walker’s engagement seriously. The Knicks needed a star and Walker seemed ideal, also because he would play in his hometown. Kemba Walker had at least three important suitors: Knicks, Lakers and the Mavericks.
But the Knicks were never seriously considered because he didn’t like the distractions of playing in Walker’s hometown. The reason he wanted to leave the Hornets was to win, not because he didn’t like the city of Charlotte. New York didn’t have (and doesn’t have) a winning structure and Walker’s entire focus was trying to win. Distractions are another reason: some players avoid signing in their city, as requests for tickets from friends and family can be overwhelming.
In the end, Walker had a great situation: a Celtics team with the ability to claim that he really needed a player with Walker’s talent and leadership.
