Kemba Walker's awaited first game back in The Queen City will take place Thursday on national television, as the new Boston Celtics point guard returns to face the Charlotte Hornets, the team for which he played for the first eight years of his career.
Walker admitted “it's weird” being back in Charlotte, but hopes for a positive response from the fans, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
There's no reason for Charlotte fans to resent Walker, as the 6-foot guard gave his all during his long tenure with the team and was even reportedly willing to take a discount to stay with the franchise.
Unfortunately, the front office cut him at the knees with a five-year, $160 million offer — one that shaved $61 million from what he could have possibly made as a supermax-eligible player. Furthermore, general manager Mitch Kupchak expressing the team couldn't sign key players to help him was the straw that broke the camel's back, forcing Walker to look elsewhere for his future.
The Celtics, who had just lost the commitment from Kyrie Irving, were in the market for a star point guard, making the marriage an instant no-brainer.
Walker has been every bit the stud the Celtics were expecting him to be, rebounding from a poor season debut to lead his team to five straight wins to now sit atop the Eastern Conference.
It's likely the All-NBA floor general receives nothing but love in his first official return to Charlotte (he played his first preseason game there as well), showered by the affection of his loyal fans.
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