Last summer in Brooklyn at Gersh Park
Kemba Walker gets the steal, and then embarrasses the helpless defender with a nasty crossover, then hits Lance Born Ready Stephenson with a dazzling no look pass and then Stephenson is fouled but still scores to complete the spectacular three point play. The crowd goes berserk!
After the game the two former New York high school basketball legends laughed and joked about their past as rivals in high school and their then present rivalry in the NBA. Stephenson who was the starting shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers, who were poised to be the most serious threat for the Miami Heat, had the most laughs that day. Because Kemba Walker was then the starting point guard for the biggest joke in the NBA… The Charlotte Bobcats.
Life can turn on a dime and it did for Kemba Walker. One day he was on top of the world, leading the Connecticut Huskies to a 2011 NCAA Championship. That year he was the best player in the NCAA Tournament hitting game winning shot after amazing game winning shot. He was named the most outstanding player in the tournament. However with all of his success in college basketball he saw his NBA draft stock fall.
He fell down to 9 and was drafted by Charlotte who was now in rebuilding mode. Kemba’s first year in Charlotte they went a NBA worst ever 7-59 in the lockout shortened season of 2011/2012. Even the worst record in the league didn’t stop them from losing the best player in the 2012 draft as the mysterious draft lottery awarded the number one pick and star Anthony Davis to New Orleans. The Bobcats picked second that year and selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
The next season there was slight improvement as Kemba led the Bobcats to a 21-61 season. The Bobcats signed longtime NBA assistant coach Steve Clifford to be the new Head Coach and they surrounded him with great basketball minds in Steve Silas, former NBA great players Patrick Ewing and Mark Price as well as ex NBA Head Coach Bob Weiss.
They drafted Indiana Hoosier star Cody Zeller with the 4th pick of the 2013 draft. But the skilled 7 foot Zeller wasn’t the biggest new comer to arrive in Charlotte last summer to join Kemba. That huge distinction goes to Big Al Jefferson.
Jefferson was the biggest free agent signing in Bobcats history with a 3 year 41 million dollar contract and his play proved worth every single dime. Big Al scored 21 points a game and grabbed 11 rebounds. Jefferson also paired beautifully with Kimba who had the best year of his short career averaging 18 points and 6 assists. The duo led Charlotte to a 43-39 record and to the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.
The Bobcats who were the 7th seed of the Eastern Conference in the playoffs were matched up with the defending Champion Miami Heat. The underdog Bobcats who had never defeated Miami since Lebron James and Chris Bosh joined them in 2010 had a huge challenge in front of them.
The Bobcats were ready to shock the sports world. Al Jefferson was on fire early in game one hitting all of his four first quarter shots and the Bobcats had an early double digit lead over Miami when disaster struck. Al Jefferson suffered a foot injury that hobbled him throughout the series. With a one legged Al Jefferson the Heat swept the Bobcats.
Even after the disappointing ending to the 2013/2014 season there was still much excitement in Charlotte. Owner Michael Jordan changed the name from the Bobcats to the original name of the NBA franchise in Charlotte… the Hornets. So with cap space, Kemba and Big Al, a nice core of young talented players, possibly two first round draft picks and one of the best coaching staffs in the league things looked very promising indeed.
Things weren’t looking that promising for the Indiana Pacers and Lance Born Ready Stephenson. The Pacers who had the best record in the Eastern Conference were knocked out of the playoffs by the Miami heat yet again. Stephenson became the biggest villain in the NBA for his rough play and antics against the Heat. The questionable play overshadowed how impressive Stephenson actually played in the series and the year in totality.
He averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He Led the NBA in triple doubles with 5. He also played intense in your face defense as well. But with all of his success in Indiana he felt unwanted there and that feeling had him seriously considering leaving the Pacers and also considering how it would be playing in Charlotte alongside Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson.
As the free agent market dwindled down and once available options for Stephenson vanished it looked like the Pacers would be the team Stephenson resigned with. Then Charlotte’s offer sheet to Utah Jazz player Gordon Hayward was matched by the Jazz, so Charlotte became an option for Stephenson again. They had cap space, a coaching staff that would push him, a nice city where he has family located and a chance to play with Kemba, Big Al and a talented roster of players. The more he thought of the fit, the more he desired to play in Charlotte.
That desire to be a Charlotte Hornet was cemented as soon as Hornet owner Michael Jordan who flew to Las Vegas to have a face to face talk with him told him how much he loved his game. The greatest player in NBA history also told him that he loved his competitive edge and that he didn’t want him to change, but just to calm it down a little. To a player like Lance Stephenson who plays hard and with intensity. Stephenson like no other player in the league depends on that edge to prosper. So those words were verbal gold from one Brooklyn born NBA great to what Hornets fans are hoping for… a future one.
Now with a projected starting lineup of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller at the forward position, Big Al Jefferson at center and the backcourt of Lance Stephenson and Kimba Walker the fans in Charlotte are more than justified in having high hopes for the Hornets much anticipated return. Kemba Walker who has been nothing short of a class act during all of the trying times in Charlotte can now do what he does best… just win.
What a Difference a Year Makes for Kemba Walker in Charlotte
By Michael Johnson