This story was originally published by Dead Spin
On Tuesday, Kemba Walker announced his retirement from the game of basketball.
On Wednesday, the Charlotte Hornets announced that they had hired Walker as a player enhancement coach on Charles Lee’s staff.
Injuries plagued the backhalf of Walker’s career, but his transition from March Madness legend to NBA lottery pick was a fun one. It’s crazy to imagine him coaching on the sidelines. It feels like we were just touting him as one of the most promising guards in the NBA.
Walker was drafted No. 9 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.
He played with the organization through their rebranding to the Hornets until 2019. After losing Kyrie Irving in free agency, the Boston Celtics did a sign and trade for Walker, where knee issues would keep him sidelined before he was ultimately traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Famously nicknamed Cardiac Kemba, Walker was a legend long before entering the NBA. He became a fan favorite during Connecticut’s March Madness run, where he was the Most Outstanding Player on the 2011 national championship team.
His iconic step back buzzer beater in front of a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden against Pittsburgh is an all-time March Madness classic.
All of these moments feel like they just happened yesterday. We’re officially getting old.
Walker will still contribute to the game of basketball with the Hornets. Starting his coaching career as a developmental coach in Charlotte makes a ton of sense. He’s this generation’s most prevalent player to ever suit up for that organization. At just 34 years old himself, Walker will still be able to relate to his players in a major way.
But it’s also a great situation for Walker’s coaching career to jumpstart. Often-injured LaMelo Ball could greatly benefit from a well-rounded point guard like Walker helping him on his game. The Hornets also had 30-year-old rookie Vasilije Micic play 60 games last year, and he could continue to develop under Walker’s watch.
We’re not getting any younger. And watching Walker on the sidelines as a coach will serve as a daily reminder of that throughout the season.
