Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker is bound to suit up against the Los Angeles Lakers, returning from a one-game absence to take part in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day matchup, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
This will be the first time Walker experiences the inter-division rivalry of the Celtics and the Lakers, but it will be his 29th try at beating LeBron James, having gone winless in his previous 28 tries.
Walker is plenty aware of that tidbit, having faced James as a member of the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers through his eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.
“He will make jokes about it, but you know in the back of his mind [beating LeBron] is something he wants to do,” said Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky, who spent four years playing with Walker as a member of the Hornets.
The Celtics newcomer has gotten off to a solid start with his new team, posting averages of 22.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game since donning the Boston green.
He posted a 40-point, 11-rebound performance in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday before missing Saturday's game with left knee soreness.
The Celtics are also expecting the return of Jaylen Brown, who missed the last two games with a thumb sprain. Boston will have all of their three 20-point scorers healthy to face the Lakers, who are getting Anthony Davis back from a five-game absence in time for this showdown.
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