Are we sleeping on Kemba Walker?

When you think of NBA guards that are great in today’s league, what comes to mind? Guys like Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, and Damian Lillard are probably some names that come to mind. However, one name that you don’t think of is Kemba Walker. Walker is a 7year veteran for the Charlotte Hornets. He was drafted 9th overall in the 2011 draft out of Connecticut. Since he’s been drafted he has become a legend in Charlotte, becoming the all-time leading scorer in franchise history. Yet, Walker is still overlooked as a top guard. Is he a great guard but plays for a bad team, or is he just an average guard playing for a mediocre team?

So what areas is Walker a better guard in than the other guards mentioned above. He beats out all the other guards in blocks per game which is huge on defense. Walker beats out Kyrie in a few areas. He’s a better stealer, rebounder, and shot blocker. Walker and Irving are nearly equal when it comes to assists per game. Walker is even a better three-point percentage shooter as well as a free throw shooter than Westbrook. Even though Walker beats some of the top guards in certain areas of the game, he is still looked over and isn’t considered a top guard in the league.

How important is Kemba Walker to his team compared to how important the other guards are to their team. The Charlotte Hornets have always been a mediocre team even after drafting Walker back in 2011. They have made a few playoffs during his time there, but they haven’t accomplished much. However, without Walker, the Charlotte Hornets are looking at as a lottery draft team, possibly even a top 3 draft team. The Warriors have shown that they can still succeed even without Steph Curry, they can still win games, make the playoffs, even be considered a top team in the league. The Celtics and Cavaliers both proved they can go far in the playoffs without Kyrie Irving. In last year’s playoffs, the Celtics were a game away from playing in the NBA Finals. Their young players in Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier lead the Celtics for most of the year claiming the number 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. When he was a Cavalier and even after he left the Cavaliers, they still made the playoffs and even advanced to the NBA Finals. Even though Curry and Irving are great players in their own right, their teams have proven to be successful when they do not play. Walker’s team would most likely be a horrible team if it weren’t for him. He is a key piece in making the Hornets a better team. Is it all due to coaching? Is it the supporting cast? What success would Walker have if he were to play for a team or a coach like Greg Popovich or Brad Stevens?

We as fans are always talking about the who are the best guards in the NBA, yet we don’t take into the fact that numbers never lie. We don’t look at all the numbers, we only look at popularity and championship rings. Yes, it is important to consider the rings, the MVP’s, all star appearances, and how popular a player is when discussing how great a player is, but it is also important to consider the facts. The facts show that Kemba Walker is a better guard than we give him credit for. He should be considered a top guard in the league. His numbers back up the support on how good he is. We shouldn’t sleep on anybody. Don’t sleep on Kemba Walker.

BruceJ

*Note- Stats are from NBA.com and Basketball reference.com