https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30016418/boston-celtics-gm-says-kemba-walker-was-definitely-not-nba-bubble"I wasn't there [in the bubble]," Ainge said Thursday during his end-of-season conference call following the Celtics' loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. "I was watching from here, but I could see, even when he was here before the bubble started -- which is why he was shut down a little bit and doing strength training and trying to prepare himself for the playoff run and the intensity of the playoff run -- but he was definitely not himself.
"In fairness to Kemba, he doesn't want to say that. He doesn't say that to our coaches. He doesn't say that to you, the media. He doesn't say that to me. I haven't heard one excuse from him. But watching the games, even the games we won, even the games where he played well, I could tell he wasn't the same physically as he was in October, November, December. So we're going to try to get that Kemba back."
Walker has dealt with left knee issues since January. They plagued him during the final two months before the league shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic -- especially between the All-Star Game in mid-February and when the season was halted in mid-March -- and then again after Boston returned to practice in June before heading to Orlando.
After slowly ramping up to full minutes during the six weeks preceding the playoffs, Walker looked terrific in Boston's sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. But he appeared to tweak his left knee again in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Toronto Raptors. And while he had good games after that, Walker never quite looked the same.
"I know Kemba wants to be back 100 percent and playing his best basketball," Ainge said. "Even not at his best, he still averaged 19 or 20 points per game in the playoffs. He still is a really good player, but he's not what he was. There's nothing more frustrating for an athlete to be on the biggest stage in the world in your sport and not be able to be yourself. I've been there before as a player. It's not fun. It's stressful. And Gordon [Hayward] and Kemba were trying to do that.
"I know everybody is banged up a little bit this time of year. I'm just saying those guys were ... they were limited on what they could do from what we are used to seeing in them."
Overall, Walker had a successful first season in Boston, helping to stabilize the organization after the departure of Kyrie Irving. Walker made his first deep playoff run after reaching the postseason only twice -- and losing in the first round both times -- during his eight years with the Charlotte Hornets.
"Kemba is a great person," Ainge said. "His leadership and being accountable ... he didn't make any excuses, he came to play, he realized the moment he was in. He's a player who understood how special it is to be here, and to never have those opportunities he's had in his career. But he has a smile on his face, he brings joy to the game and the team and the entire organization on a daily basis.
"He's just great to be around, and that's why I feel so bad. It's his first time on this big of a stage ... and he gave everything that he had. He played well, but we know that he wasn't himself. But he's a terrific leader and a terrific teammate and an amazing person."
Topic: Ainge: “Kemba wasn’t himself. Not 100%” (Read 6871 times)