Kemba Walker Joins Charles Lee’s Hornets Coaching Staff After Announcing Retirement

After announcing his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, Kemba Walker will now join the Charlotte Hornets staff under Charles Lee as a player enhancement coach.

Walker, who played 12 seasons in the NBA, spent the bulk of his career with the Hornets, playing in Charlotte from 2011 to 2019. He will now look to guide the team as it begins a new era under Lee, who was hired in May.

Walker spent the last year playing for the French League’s AS Monaco, where he helped lead the team to a championship before announcing his retirement from the game.

Walker, a four-time All-Star, averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game over the course of his career, with some of his best seasons coming in a Hornets uniform. He is also the team’s all-time leader in points with 14,486.

Unfortunately for Walker, injuries derailed his career and likely added to his earlier-than-expected retirement. While he likely would have preferred to continue playing in the NBA, he now has a chance to help turn Charlotte’s franchise around.

As a player enhancement coach, Walker will have the chance to develop a young Hornets roster into one that can compete in the playoffs. Charlotte has plenty of promising young talent with players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, and Walker will look to get the most out of them.