NBA Legend Says Kemba Walker, Luka Doncic Resemble His Game

Luka Doncic

Getty Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic

Earlier this week, Kemba Walker returned to the Boston Celtics lineup after suffering a neck injury that occurred against the Denver Nuggets.

Against the Brooklyn Nets, Walker led all scorers with 39 points with six rebounds while dishing out four dimes in a Celtics 121-110 victory.

“I’ve been over it,” Walker said after the game of the sprained neck he suffered against the Nuggets. “I mean, I could have played last game, honestly.”

“But if I’m on the court, I’m on the court. That’s really it. I wasn’t out there thinking about anything. I wanted to win.”

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens offered high praise for Walker after the performance.

“Kemba kept us in it in the second quarter as they were going through their flurries of 3s,” Stevens said. “He kept hitting huge shots, and that allowed us to stay in the game.

“We’ve all seen many times when teams get hot, and it’s hard to sustain over the course of the whole game. We knew how urgent we had to play in the second half, because of the way they were.”

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5-Time All-Star Tim Hardaway Sr. Thinks Walker Plays Most Like Him

Former Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Sr. has been seen courtside supporting his son Tim Hardaway Jr. over the last couple of home games and before the Cleveland Cavaliers game. I spoke with Hardaway Sr. about which current player in the NBA reminds him of himself. He quickly replied, “Kemba Walker, no question.”

“Kemba Walker plays exactly like I played. He comes down and sets his team up, crossing you over, putting it behind his back using screens, stepback, and shooting jumps shots. I’m going to tell you this – Luka [Doncic] plays like I played as well.”

Hardaway continued to explain the similarities between his game and Doncic’s.

“He is got the ball in his hand, running the offense, is setting up the offense, and making the right passes. The only thing I wasn’t is 6’7 and 6’8, but I like the way Luka plays, and Kemba plays. That’s the two guys in the NBA that resembles me and the way I played.”

During his NBA career, Hardaway played 13 seasons in the league averaging 17.7 points, 8.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. He was also selected to five All-Star teams, and five All NBA teams with the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Indiana Pacers. 

Luka Doncic is currently averaging 30.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 9.5 assists through 17 games for the Mavericks and is in the MVP conversation. As for Walker, he is averaging 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game for the Celtics through 16 games.
Before the Mavericks took on the Cavaliers last Friday, Kevin Love was asked about the MVP chants in Doncic’s direction in the two games prior.
“He [Luka Doncic] is cut from that cloth. He definitely has that capability of being an MVP one day,” Love told Taylor Jones of Fanatics View. “I said that after the first time we played him and just watching him. I mean I think it was 10 games ago and I said he is one the guys or the guy that is the future of our league. ”

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