Did Kemba Walker throw some shade at Celtics in intro presser with Knicks?

Author Ty Anderson

August 18th, 2021 5:03 AM

Kemba Walker is too nice of a person to throw anybody under the bus.

But when it came to the topic of belief and trust and his move from the Celtics to the Knicks, the 31-year-old Walker, who was introduced to the New York media on Tuesday, seemed to come close.

“I’m super excited that [the Knicks] just have belief in me,” Walker, introduced with fellow ex-Celtic Evan Fournier, told the assembled media. “That’s all I need. I just need somebody to believe in me, and these guys do. And I appreciate that.”

That’s a pretty normal answer for any free agent looking to bounce back in a new city after battling injuries. But with an answer like that, the natural follow up asks if that means the Celtics, who actually traded Walker to Oklahoma City while he was on vacation as Walker revealed, did not believe in Walker because of his knee issues?

Walker saw that question coming from a mile away and tried shutting it down with a couple of quick no’s, but a well-placed ‘but’ threw us in a blender, while a grin and shrug from Walker only opened the door for second guessing.

“I definitely feel like Boston believed in me. But they traded me, you know?” Walker, clearly trying to diffuse the possibility of shading Boston but also wanting to speak for his own game, said. “So, yeah. I don’t think that they didn’t believe in me.

“My guys, my home team Knicks, they believed in me. And I’m here now. So whatever happened in the past is irrelevant at this point.”

Well. There’s that.

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  It's entirely possible that the follow-up question was bait. Everybody loves to go fishing for soundbites. Especially for NBA Twitter engagement. (Sidenote: NBA Twitter has balanced it so everything you see is either incredibly hilarious or downright infuriating, and it's just wild that they've perfected these feelings on a medium that gets worse by the day.)
  
  You also got the feeling that Walker sensed that it was bait with his initial reaction to the question, and while he said the right thing off the bat, that 'but' is a killer. It was essentially trying to take the high road while also jabbing back. And the replies to Knicks reporter Mike Vorkunov’s tweet of that quote told you that the damage was already done.
  
  Walker also wouldn't have much of a leg to stand on when it came to full-on complaining about the Celtics' decision to move him. While it may not be in the best move in terms of player relations, the Celtics gave Walker massive, massive money, and with were 'rewarded' with back-to-back derailments due to Walker's knee issues. Walker also bottomed out before those knee issues knocked him out of the 2021 postseason, with a dreadful 31.7 field goal percentage in three playoff tilts.
  
  Anybody not looking to get out of that contract, especially with Walker rapidly approaching his mid-30s, wouldn't want worth their check as an executive. And deep down, there's probably a part of Walker that understands that. I mean, how could you not after looking at what the Celtics did with Isaiah Thomas, a more accomplished player in town, back in 2017?
  
  It also didn't help that Walker took you on one hell of a double-negative ride with his quotes. It, again, felt like he wanted to say something without saying anything, and given what the Celtics said about him after the trade and given the way they worked with him to try to get him to a level of complete comfort with his ailing knee, that's understandable.

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  Walker, for what it's worth, told Knicks media that his knee didn't bother him much at all last season until that setback in the postseason, and it sounds like the Knicks are planning to play him in back-to-backs in 2021-22.
  
  “My knee feels great," Walker said. "I feel really good. I haven’t had this much time off in a few years. I’m planning on coming here and feeling super good, and continuing to feel super good.
  
  “It’s the most unreal feeling. I can’t put into words how amazing it is to be back home.”
  
  And with redemption on his mind.
  
  “It’s everything," Walker said when asked about bouncing back as a big game player. "It’s driving everything. Just because I know the kind of player I am, and I know what kind of level I want to be at. That’s definitely added motivation.”
  
  As well as sticking it to those who didn't believe in him.
  
  A group that may or may not include the Celtics.

Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.

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Author Ty Anderson

Category:

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Tags:

2021 Celtics Offseason,Boston Celtics,kemba walker,New York Knicks