‘REAL DEAL’
There is the nostalgia and the emotional appeal of the homecoming, which is a very real and genuine aspect of Kemba Walker’s story. This wasn’t manufactured to sell tickets or hang a billboard. In the words of Fat Joe, the Bronx hip-hop legend who attended Walker’s introductory press conference Tuesday, “He’s the real deal. He came up through the Gauchos. He came up through the streets. I watched him play in the parks. He’s certified out here.”
But as we’ve seen many times inside these MSG walls, embrace hits inflection point the moment sneakers touch the court. We recall, only five years ago, the excitement of Joakim Noah being announced in preseason as hailing from “Hell’s Kitchen.” Then Hell’s Kitchen became Hell’s Contract. Noah was banished from the team, waived, and mocked in a subway ad campaign.
The good news is Walker isn’t Noah. Or Coney Island’s Stephon Marbury. Not even close. Walker’s contract is a very reasonable at two years, $18 million, and there won’t be physical altercations with Jeff Hornacek or late-night Vaseline consumption.
But there is that knee. That balky knee.
“I feel great,” Walker assured Tuesday. “My knee feels great. Honestly, I haven’t been playing as much since the regular season. I feel really good. I haven’t had this much time off in a little while, in a few years, to be honest. It feels good to have this rest and time to get my knee right. I intend to come in feeling super good and continue to feel super good.”
Why Kemba’s homecoming story could be a lot different from the rest
Knee pain is impossible to predict, of course, especially after meniscus surgery and signs of arthritis. But there is logic behind Walker’s confidence. He hasn’t enjoyed this much recuperation time in years, having played internationally during the summer of 2019 and deep into the Orlando bubble in 2020.
Last season, Walker, 31, logged a career-low 43 games while sitting backto-back games to preserve his body for the playoffs (that backfired since Walker missed the final two postseason games). He’s arriving at the Garden well-rested, with apparently no plans for load management.
“You got to ask the coach,” Walker said with a smile when asked about resting on back-to-backs. “Ask Thibs.”
Thibodeau muttered from his frontrow seat, “You’re playing,” which drew hearty laughs from an audience aware of the coach’s demanding reputation. For the sake of following through on his convictions, it’s a good sign Thibodeau feels comfortable to crack this joke. A little over a year ago, while Thibodeau was still searching for his next job, he was pushing a new-found embrace of rest and load management in an ESPN podcast. But a fourth-seed with the Knicks and a Coach of the Year award has a way of reinforcing principles. Thibodeau’s best players — Julius Randle and RJ Barrett — finished 1st and 2nd in the NBA in total minutes played last season, and the Knicks escaped relatively injury-free while exceeding expectations.
But the Knicks don’t need to overextend Walker. They have Derrick Rose to split time at point guard, and enough backcourt depth to propose nights off. If the plan works, Walker will be running the playmaking that was sorely missing last season with Elfrid Payton running the show.
A lineup of Walker-Barrett-Evan Fournier-Randle-Nerlens Noel is more equipped to match the opposition’s offense, which became the Knicks’ downfall in the playoffs against Atlanta.
“We’re going to be really good,” Walker said. “My ability to get in the lane. Hopefully I can draw multiple defenders and get rid of the basketball. Trusting my teammates. I know this guy right here (Fournier) is going to light it up. For sure he’s going to shoot the crap out of the ball.”
The bar is higher for the Knicks after their rejuvenation season, but also clearable. Nobody is confusing them for title contenders. They can’t even claim the championship of NYC, not with Kevin Durant and James Harden in the outer borough. ut Walker provides some excitement. And, for now, a cool story.
“I love playing in this arena and it’s different because I’m from here,” he said. “I’ve played here so many different times growing up. It’s definitely going to be different now wearing a Knick jersey. It’s going to be better. Ten times better.”
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