Kemba: MJ will always be ‘special’ It’s No. 1 LSU versus No. 2 Alabama again
Tide have won eight straight against Tigers since epic ’11 game
Charlotte, N.C. — Kemba Walker says he holds no ill feelings toward Michael Jordan, even though the Hornets owner and six-time NBA champion decided not to keep him in Charlotte by paying him a $221 million supermax contract.
In fact, Walker only has love for Jordan.
“MJ is always going to be a special guy in my life,” Walker said Thursday night after his return to Charlotte as a member of the Boston Celtics. “He’s one of the reasons I am where I am today.”
Jordan drafted Walker with the ninth pick in the 2011 NBA draft, and Walker took it from there. He beat out DJ Augustin for the starting point guard spot and flourished into a three-time All-Star despite being undersized — he’s listed at 6-foot — for his position.
Along the way, he became tight with Jordan, and the two still talk regularly. Although Walker said they didn’t have a chance to catch up Thursday, he said he feels like he can talk with Jordan anytime.
“He gave me the opportunity to flourish as a basketball player,” Walker said. “He gave me the opportunity to grow as a man in this community. So, MJ definitely has a special place in my heart for sure.”
Walker scored 14 points and had six assists as the Celtics beat the Hornets for their sixth straight win.
Walker’s mother, who still lives in Charlotte, was in the stands.
It was an emotional night for Walker.
The Hornets showed a highlight video of Walker during pre-game introductions, which brought tears to his eyes.
After that, the crowd gave Walker a loud, one-minute standing ovation.
“It was amazing,” Walker said after the game. “Just a great feeling to know that they still have love for me even though I left. But you know, to be back and to get the reception I got was really cool.”
It was clear Walker was missed.
His longtime friend Cody Zeller honored him with a pair of sneakers that had the Charlotte skyline graphic reading “We Miss You Kemba.” Walker said he misses Zeller and some of the young players he was mentoring on the team like Devonte Graham, Dwayne Bacon and Miles Bridges.
He joked that Graham has stolen some of his moves.
“For sure! Definitely stole some of them. Definitely,” Graham said with a laugh. “When you’ve got a great guy like that, great point guard in this league you watch him, got to watch him the whole year so I definitely take some of his stuff from him.”
Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Alabama and LSU are ready for another 1 versus 2 November get-together.
It took eight years, seismic offensive shifts and two Heisman Trophy-contending quarterbacks, but they’re back for another massive meeting between the nation’s two top-ranked teams in the AP poll.
No. 1 LSU (8-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 2 CFP) meets No. 2 Alabama (8-0, 5-0, No. 3 CFP) today at Bryant-Denny Stadium, just like the so-called Game of the Century in 2011. Well, not just like it since those comparatively plodding offenses never reached the end zone and now the Tigers and Crimson Tide have two of the nation’s best.
Even President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
“It’s very exciting, 1 vs. 2, it’s the best of the best,” Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy said. “Everybody wants to play their best game because it’s 1 vs. 2. You want to go out there and show that you’re the best. So there’s a lot of excitement, a lot of anxiety, just ready to go out and play.”
The big question leading up to the game is the status of Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his surgically repaired right ankle. Coach Nick Saban has said that will be “a game-time decision,” but Tagovailoa has been practicing and ‘Bama remains a 5-1/2-point favorite.
If he’s healthy, it has the makings of an epic quarterback showdown: Tagovailoa and LSU’s Joe Burrow rank among the top three nationally in completion percentage and passing efficiency. Burrow is second in passing yards per game and Tagovailoa is seventh.
The offenses bear scant resemblance to those in the
LSU AT ALABAMA 3:30 p.m., CBS Bryant-Denny Stadium
2011 field goal festival, won 9-6 by LSU in overtime. Alabama won the rematch 21-0 in the national championship game and hasn’t lost to its SEC West rival since then — an eight-game win streak.
Both teams again have their sights set on SEC championships and playoff berths. LSU has polished its resume with three wins over Top 10 teams, and perhaps could overcome a loss in Tuscaloosa or the SEC championship game. Alabama hasn’t faced anybody currently ranked, and might not have that luxury.
“We went on the road and (played) a really good Texas team, played Florida, Auburn,” Burrow said. “So we’ve been challenged, and I think that’s going to help us a lot this week, facing the adversity we’ve had this year ... We have a really mature team.”
Some other things to know heading into the LSU-Alabama showdown:
Coach talk
“This is the best football team we’ve had going into this game.”— LSU’s Ed Orgeron.
LSU is “extremely explosive on offense, still play really good on defense. It’s going to come down to the same old things — playing with discipline, blocking, tackling, basic fundamentals, not turning the ball over, explosive plays and people have to maintain their poise so they can do that for 60 minutes in the game.” — Alabama’s Nick Saban.
Shootout?
LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton doesn’t buy into talk that this will be a shootout.
“I mean, that’s crazy, because I think we’ve both got pretty good defenses,” Fulton said. “I know it won’t be that high for sure, but I’m not really looking into the media about that.”