New York Knicks: 3 Healthy expectations and goals for Kemba Walker

New York Knicks: Kemba Walker’s main issue

Before diving too far into expectations, it’s important to first address the elephant in the room. Walker is a four-time All-Star who led an uninspiring Charoletee franchise to the postseason. In a vacuum, this would be a massive addition.

However, reoccurring knee injuries have caused the once-dominant star to whither in recent seasons. During his best season, the New York native averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists per game on 43% shooting. In his most recent season, he recorded just 19.3 points and 4.9 assists.

Even more startling is the fact that Kemba appeared in just 43 games. Once known for his longevity, knee issues have caused the former Hornet to miss an increasingly concerning amount of playing time.

The issue started with the point guard receiving treatment on his problematic left knee during NBA off-seasons. At the time, it seemed like nothing serious. Walker managed to play in at least 79 of the 82 scheduled games in five of his first eight NBA seasons. And he played very well.

As time went on the injuries began to accumulate. Yet, Kemba was still able to land a massive four-year, $141 million deal with Boston in 2019. He was expected to be the final piece of a dangerous core that already featured Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

This core had immense potential. Unfortunately, Kemba’s left knee became a proverbial Achilles heel. After the star began to miss games, reports emerged that he had undergone stem cell treatment. By the end, it became clear he was no longer the talent Boston needed. The Celtics shipped him to Oklahoma City, where he was eventually bought out.

I include all this background to make this point. The Knicks are receiving the Celtics version of Walker. Not the one from his Hornets days.

This player still has value. But expectations should be tempered. This begs the question: What should Knicks fans realistically expect from their newest player?