Kemba Walker signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the New York Knicks in the offseason as a replacement for Elfrid Payton. It seemed like a massive upgrade at the point guard position for Tom Thibodeau, but Walker struggled in the first quarter of the season by only scoring over 20 points twice during that early stretch. Moreover, Walker was exposed immensely on the defensive end of the floor because of his small stature.
Due to Walker's struggles, Thibodeau decided to bench Walker for 10 straight games before massive health issues resulted in Walker starting against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. Walker scored 29 points with five 3-pointers while adding six rebounds and three assists as well, showing why, at the very least, he should be playing in this rotation as the Knicks try to get back in the play-in picture. They're just 13-17 and 2-8 in their last 10 games.
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Why Kemba Walker should play for New York Knicks
1. Pull-up jumpers, scoring prowess
When Walker was still donning the Charlotte Hornets uniform, going under on pick-and-roll situations was a mortal sin for defenders. The Celtics made that same mistake on Saturday, and Walker made them pay with long-range bombs. The Knicks are currently sixth in the league in 3s made and 3s attempted, but it is still evident that their offense is struggling because they're just 19th in offensive rating.
Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Evan Fournier are tasked to be three of the main catalysts for the Knicks, but they have all struggled with their shot. Randle was eighth in MVP voting last season, but his numbers have heavily dipped because defenses have prepared for him well. Barrett and Fournier's jump shots have been wildly inconsistent, thus giving Walker the rock after the 10-game absence could boost the scoring and provide a new look for the Knicks.
Giving the responsibility to an individual that has the track record seems just about right.
2. Feeding the ball to his teammates
Alec Burks and Derrick Rose were tasked to handle the point guard duties after the benching of Walker, but these two players have a score-first mentality rather than setting up their teammates. Walker also has that attitude of racking up his scoring production, but he has also shown that he can give it up to his teammates and is a better passer than those other two.
Walker's selfless and joyful charisma could easily rub off on his teammates, especially when they're getting involved in the offensive sets as well. Additionally, it is natural for Walker to look for the open guy when the focus of defensive schemes tend to focus on him already. Burks and Rose could still play alongside Walker, but they could still flourish even if Kemba's regular minutes were given back to him.
3. Exceptional brilliance, knowledge of the game
There are three recent notable games in which Walker's late-game execution could have been utilized by the Knicks. Their losses against the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Toronto Raptors were down to the final minutes, but Thibodeau could not find anyone on his team to take over and lead the charge. In 2019, Walker was second in the Association with 175 points in the clutch, and this has been one glaring weakness for New York this season.
Even in his Celtics stint, there were instances where he would convert critical buckets even with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the roster. When Walker is on the floor, he isn't frightened of the pressure and bright lights; he has that commendable trait of leading his team to victories. His basketball IQ and incredible awareness are magnified at the crucial stages of the game because of his methodical approach and making sure to get to his comfortable spots to convert clutch baskets.
As the season is heading toward its halfway point, Tom Thibodeau must realize that someone with the talent and abilities of Walker should not be sitting on the bench. It has been well-advertised that Walker is a poor defender, but he can more than make up for it with his impact on the offensive end of the court. With Walker still in the process of trying to reclaim a spot in the rotation, he must just remain optimistic and continue playing at an excellent level when given the opportunity. He obviously wants to play and help his hometown team.
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