4-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker retired from basketball on Tuesday after 12 seasons. The previous UConn standout spent the previous season abroad at AS Monaco and final performed within the NBA in the course of the 2022-23 marketing campaign for the Dallas Mavericks.
Whereas Walker’s NBA credentials (over 14,000 profession factors, four-time NBA All-Star and a third-team All-NBA choice) are among the many finest in his draft class, his possibilities of making the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame are slim. Basketball Reference solely provides Walker a 15.1% probability of incomes a spot in basketball’s most hallowed halls.
Sure, Walker’s substantial faculty resume ought to bolster his probabilities for a spot amongst basketball’s immortal names in Springfield, Massachusetts. He averaged 16.1 factors per recreation throughout his time at UConn, together with 23.5 per recreation in his ultimate season. That yr Walker led his staff to an NCAA title, earned Consensus First-Group All-American honors and was a Remaining 4 MVP.
However Corridor of Fame voters not often give faculty deserves the identical recognition as NBA accomplishments. For instance, Duke’s Christian Laettner — one of the crucial embellished faculty basketball gamers within the trendy period — nonetheless lacks a person spot within the Corridor of Fame (although he’s enshrined as a member of the 1992 Olympic Dream Group).
Whereas Walker appears like a longshot for the Corridor of Fame at this level, it does not take something away from his legendary faculty profession. Since he’s hanging it up for good, this can be a good time to look again at a few of his most iconic moments in a UConn uniform.
Walker scores 42 towards Vermont
In UConn’s second recreation of the 2010-11 season, Walker posted a career-high 42 factors to go together with eight rebounds and three assists in an 89-73 win. Walker would observe that efficiency with 4 consecutive video games with no less than 29 factors, together with a 31-point outburst towards Wichita State within the opening spherical of the Maui Invitational.
Throughout his ultimate season with UConn, Walker recorded 13 video games with no less than 25 factors. He helped lead the staff to a 10-0 begin earlier than falling to Pitt on the highway. Three months later, Walker would get revenge towards the Panthers in memorable vogue.
Sport-winner within the Huge East Event
The most important shot of Walker’s UConn profession — and one of the crucial notable game-winners in faculty basketball historical past — occurred within the Huge East Event quarterfinals towards Pitt. With the sport tied at 74-74 within the ultimate seconds, Walker went proper, crossed over twice and hit a stepback mid-range jumper on the horn to provide the Huskies a 76-74 win.
After knocking off Pitt within the quarterfinals, UConn fired off back-to-back wins over Syracuse and Louisville to seize the Huge East title. Walker scored 33 factors in an extra time win towards Syracuse and 19 in a 69-66 victory over Louisville within the convention title recreation.
Legendary 2011 NCAA Event run
UConn’s run within the Huge East Event helped the Huskies earn a No. 3 seed within the 2011 NCAA Event. After cruising by Bucknell within the first spherical, Walker scored 33 factors in a second-round win over Cincinnati and 36 towards San Diego State within the Candy 16.
Walker scored 20 factors in a 65-63 win over Arizona to advance to the Remaining 4. Within the nationwide semifinal towards Kentucky, Walker recorded 18 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds in a 56-55 win over Kentucky. He completed off the legendary run with a close to double-double (16, factors 9 rebounds) within the nationwide title recreation win over Butler to safe this system’s first crown since 2004.