The reception Kemba Walker received upon returning to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The Hornets had an electric tribute video before the game, highlighting the 8 years Walkers spent dragging a criminally mismanaged Charlotte team to 40 wins and several playoff appearances. The crowd showed their gratitude for Kemba with a one minute long standing ovation. The cheers for Boston Celtics star Kemba’s introduction was louder than that of any of the home players, and the moment brought Walker nearly to tears.
It almost assuredly factored into his rough performance on the court, where we scored a meager 12 points on 4 of 18 from the field.