Kemba Walker plays a great season for Charlotte Hornets, not only because of his 60-point explosion against the Philadelphia 76ers. The small Point Guard makes the Hornets almost single-handedly relevant and actually completely relieves the franchise of the decision about its Free Agency.
At the moment, there are exactly six active players who have scored at least 60 points in a game: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, James Harden and Kemba Walker. With the exception of the Hornets player, they all have one thing in common – they all signed at least one maximum contract during their career. Walker’s not – not by a long shot.
The 28-year-old is in the last year of his contract, which he signed in 2015 and which earned him exactly 12 million dollars every year. 21 Point Guards earn more this season than Walker, who is on the pay scale between Patty Mills (Spurs) and Marcus Smart (Celtics).
An almost laughable circumstance, even though the contract for Walker was considered too high at the time. Hardly anyone has had this opinion for more than two years. The dervish, which once led UConn sensationally and almost single-handedly to the NCAA title, is now a respected all-star. He’s established – even if you can’t really say that about his team.
The game against the Sixers may be used as an example. In this millennium there were 16 60-point games, only twice such a gala of a single player was not rewarded. Walkers Hornets lost just as Booker did two years ago with the Phoenix Suns’ rest ramp in Boston. “I am, of course, proud of what I have accomplished. That was incredible today,” Walker reported after his explosion, “but he didn’t ignore the fact that without victory it was a pattern without value. “I always want to win, that’s why I’m actually mad.”
The performance was all the more amazing when you consider that he did not succeed against Atlanta, Chicago or Phoenix, but against the Sixers, one of the best defensive teams in the league. The recognition from the opponent was correspondingly high. “No one has ever poured me 60,” said Jimmy Butler, who had to defend Walker most of the time.
“This was probably the best game a player has ever played against me. There are so many good scorers now, and he’s one of the best.” However, the final word came from the newixer, who first blocked Walker in overtime and then sank the Game Winner on the other side of downtown.
The Hornets are currently at a balance of 7-8, which again sounds like grey mediocrity. In the east, which is rather weak in depth, this is even enough for a playoff spot at the moment, but Walker’s demands are actually higher. “I want to build something here in Charlotte, something that has never existed before: I want to keep things constant here,” he said at the beginning of the season.
However, the only constant so far has been that Charlotte has missed the playoffs in a nice regularity. Since 2004, when Charlotte got an NBA team again, they only reached the postseason three times and won only three victories in total. Only in 2016 did the Hornets (3-4 against Miami) once knock hard on the goal for the second round. Despite Walker, who has set career records in points, assists and effective field casting, the Hornets could once again be in the throes of a similar fate this season.
But it’s not just Walker who provides hope: James Borrego, a young, up-and-coming head coach, was able to get rid of the Spurs and give the team a fresh cell cure. Gone are the days when Steve Clifford played very slowly and wanted to win the games through hard work. The new Hornets play fast, take more and more throws from outside and sometimes even act without a real center.
Another problem of the past days were the minutes when Kemba went on the bench, because last year’s backup of Michael Carter-Williams could probably be counted among the weaker players of the entire league. With Tony Parker, on the other hand, one finds oneself in a luxurious situation in comparison, even though the Frenchman has got a bit older at the age of 36.
Nevertheless, he can relieve Walker and shares the ball with the franchise player in some phases. The Finals MVP of 2007 has no airs and graces, old Spurs school anyway. “He’s a real leader,” Walker recently told Fox Sports. “He talks to the young players, gives them tips. That’s what we needed. It’s a real honor to play with him.”
Nevertheless, Walker remains the leader on the field, the performances speak for themselves. Everything runs offensively over him, although opposing teams have long been able to adjust to the fact that the danger (almost only) emanates from him. “We have tried to double him, to hedg him. We put Butler and Joel Embiid on him, but he still scored against two elite defenders,” Sixers coach Brett Brown admitted. “He’s so hard to defend. 60 points against a good defensive team is an incredible performance.”
And something like this should also be financially worthwhile. Walker will be Free Agent in the summer and this mad game should have cleared up any doubts that Kemba should get the maximum salary – and will. Coming summer has half the league Cap Space and too many high-carat will not come on the market. If the Hornets don’t do it, another team will be happy to offer a maximum contract.
Walker already made it clear before the season that he definitely wanted to stay in Charlotte. “This is where I want to be. I don’t want to play anywhere else,” he explained at the first PK before the start of the training camp.
Also from the management it was to be heard again and again that Walker should be held absolutely. One could have traded the All-Star last February for a good countervalue, but it never happened, also because owner Michael Jordan fought vehemently against it and demanded at least one All-Star in return.
Charlotte will have to confirm this in the summer of 2019. Walker could wave a contract for five years over 189 million dollars, even 221 million are possible, as long as Kemba is elected All-Star this season.
For a small franchise that has major cap problems (over 100 million for the coming season) due to questionable contracts for Nicolas Batum (still 76.7 million until 2021), Marvin Williams (still 29 million until 2020) or Cody Zeller (still 43.4 million until 2020), this is a lot of wood. However, a small team like Charlotte can’t afford to just hand over the most popular player because an attraction like Walker sells tickets.
Games such as against Philadelphia should make the Hornets’ decision noticeably easier. Walker wants to stay, Charlotte wants to hold him. From 1 July, the Point Guard may sign a new contract. In the meantime, General Manager Mitch Kupchak Jordan will probably get on your nerves with the following statement: ‘MJ, pay this man! Even if one or the other neutral observer wishes for sure that this scoring machine gets the attention it deserves on a bigger stage.