Former All-Star guard Kemba Walker announces retirement

Kemba Walker scored 12,009 points for the Hornets, setting a team record all-time.

• Download the NBA app

Kemba Walker, the all-time leading scorer in Charlotte Hornets history and four-time All-Star in his 12 NBA seasons, announced his retirement from the basketball team on Tuesday.

Walker, who played for AS Monaco in the Euroleague last season, played eight seasons with the Hornets (2011-19), two seasons with the Boston Celtics (2019-21) and one season each with the New York Knicks (2021-22) and Dallas Mavericks (2022-23) in his NBA career.

In his social media post, Walker wrote, “Basketball has done more for me than I could ever imagine, and I am so grateful for the amazing journey I’ve been on. With that, I want to share that I’m officially retiring from basketball.

“This was a dream. When I look back, I still can’t believe what I’ve achieved in my career.”

Thank you, basketball. photo.twitter.com/gLUbQnZMP5

— Kemba Walker (@KembaWalker) July 2, 2024

Forever a Buzz City legend ⭐ photo.twitter.com/SNpGTPNd9O

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) July 2, 2024

The 6-foot guard was a three-time NBA All-Star in Charlotte, and then in his first season in Boston in 2019-20. But the 33-year-old Walker has missed significant time recently with knee issues, including 37 games with New York in 2021-22 and just nine games with Dallas last season.

Walker retires as the Hornets’ leading scorer, now in the franchise’s top three in games played, assists and steals. He also holds the team records for 3-pointers made and attempted, field goals made and attempted, and free throws made and attempted.

He averaged 19.3 points during his 12-year NBA career, during which he nearly single-handedly led Connecticut to the NCAA championship in 2011 in a remarkable late-season run.

Walker played the majority of the pandemic-affected 2019-20 season, the last of five straight seasons in which he averaged at least 20 points per game.

This report used information from The Associated Press.