Confidant surprised by Kemba’s quick removal
Knicks point guard Kemba Walker has yet to comment publicly, but his camp was surprised at the turn of events in which the fourtime All-Star from The Bronx was yanked from the rotation in Monday’s controversial demotion of a New York basketball icon.
Walker’s confidants thought he would get 30-40 games under the circumstances before any major decisions were made.
Emanuel “Book” Richardson, Walker’s former AAU coach in The Bronx and a confidant, told The Post on Tuesday he was uncomfortable with the suddenness of the move.
After 20 games, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau disassociated himself from Walker and named Alec Burks the starting point guard for the Nets’ 112-110 squeaker over the Knicks on Tuesday.
“I think everyone close to the kid is taken aback,” Richardson told The Post. “But he’s his coach. We don’t see what happens every day in practice, what happens behind closed doors. It’s never what you do, but it’s how you do it. I think that’s another reason why there’s a disparity between players and coaches.
“The coach has to do what’s best for the team. It might be what’s best for team. However, the fact you did it the way you did it, some people disagree. Some people don’t.”
The Knicks’ new alignment looked just fine Tuesday
as Burks scored 25 points with five assists and inbounded to Evan Fournier for his last-minute 3-pointer that tied the score. The Knicks were rolling in the first half, took a 61-60 lead at halftime and saw eight lead changes in the final period.
“It was good,’’ Julius Randle said. “AB, especially early, got off to a good start, aggressive pushing the ball. Coach said before it gave us more size on the defensive end. So we were switching and active. It’s still going to take time to get it exactly like we want it to be. But we’re right on the verge of being really good.’’
With RJ Barrett leaving the game due to illness in the second quarter, Thibodeau had a chance to move Burks to small forward and start
Walker for the second half. Instead, he used rookie shooting guard Quentin Grimes and the Knicks were outscored 13-0.
Meanwhile, Richardson said the Walker “Bronx Tale” still has more chapters.
“Only time will tell,” Richardson said. “If Kemba does what he’s supposed to do, he’ll play. If that team skyrockets, Coach Thibs will look like a genius. If they don’t, he won’t. Maybe he’s fighting for his job. Winning basketball games will dictate what happens.”
Richardson has reached out to his former pupil and reports the former UConn star is handling it better than expected, with no sign he wants out of New York.
Walker signed a two-year, $18 million contract in August
that saw him give up a significant chunk of his Oklahoma City buyout.
Thibodeau said he needs more “size” on defense, prompting the move, and loved what he saw from Burks as a starter when Walker took Saturday night off to rest in Atlanta.
“He’s a big boy and a true professional,” Richardson said of Walker. “He’ll do what’s best for that team, to help that team get as far as they can go. He’s handling it like a true professional. When [his] number is called he’ll be ready to play.”
Walker is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range, but his plus-minus is a teamworst minus-122.
If Walker is being made the scapegoat for the Knicks’ declining defense, Richardson said it’s not right.
“Everyone would’ve loved Kemba to get to the All-Star break,” Richardson said. “I watched them and watched them give up a lot of points.
“It doesn’t look like the typical Thibodeau defensive team. But is that directly placed on Kemba? No. It’s not on any one player.
“Fans coming to see the game don’t want to see an 85-80 game. They want to see 110-100. That’s what generates revenue at the Garden. Maybe the playoffs it’s tighter.”