Kemba Walker had a quiet return for the Boston Celtics, but head coach Brad Stevens understands his importance for their team.
Walker scored finished with nine points, three rebounds, and four assists in 19 minutes of play in the Celtics, 105-75 loss to the New York Knicks, his first game this season since receiving a stem cell injection in his left knee just before the start of the season.
But even though the 30-year old point guard was far from his usual form in his return, Stevens knows that Boston is a different team when the four-time All-Star is playing alongside the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, according to Brian Robb of Boston Sports Journal.
Brad Stevens on Kemba's return to offense: "If we are going to be a good team and compete with the best in the league, we don't have a shot if we don't let Kemba be him."
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) January 19, 2021
Even without Walker, the Celtics have compiled an 8-3 record, winning five straight before the loss to the Knicks and remaining among the best teams in the Eastern Conference. However, the ninth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft will still have a minutes restriction moving forward, with Stevens limiting him to 20 minutes per game.
Last season, in his first year with the team after joining the Celtics via a sign and trade deal from the Charlotte Hornets, the UConn product averaged 20.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 43.4% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. He helped Boston reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat in six games.
Walker and the Celtics have a chance to bounce back from the rout against the Knicks when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in a game between two of the early leaders in the conference.
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