Boston Celtics big man Enes Kanter says he would pick Kemba Walker over Kyrie Irving “any day.”
While Kanter says Irving is one of the best point guards in the NBA, he believes Walker will be a better leader for the Celtics.
Walker is replacing Irving as Boston's starting point guard next season, as Irving is now on the Brooklyn Nets after playing the past two seasons for the Celtics:
"Kyrie's definitely one of the best point guards. When I was with Portland & we played the Celtics [in Boston] I could feel the chemistry wasn't there. There was like a negative energy. … Kemba is a really good leader. I'll definitely pick Kemba any day over Kyrie."—@EnesKanter pic.twitter.com/W9oVky5KmV
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) August 28, 2019
Kemba Walker recruited Enes Kanter to the Celtics this summer. Kanter, who split time with the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers last season, signed a two-year, $9.7 million deal with Boston. He averaged 13.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 67 games with the Knicks and Blazers while shooting 54.9 percent from the field and 78.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Kanter will have a big role on the Celtics, as Boston lost All-Star Al Horford to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency and traded Aron Baynes to the Phoenix Suns. Walker, meanwhile, will be asked to lead the Celtics in scoring with the departures of Irving and Horford, although he'll have plenty of help since Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Kanter are capable scorers.
Walker, a three-time All-Star, has career averages of 19.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 605 games. He put up 25.6 points and 5.9 assists per game last season with the Charlotte Hornets.
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