Bill Walker : Overshadowed

[Mon]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?name=20080114/billwalker

Not sure if this was posted but it tells an amazing story about this young man.

I'm pulling for him.

[zerophase]

"Walker, despite once looking like one of the most awesome forces in basketball, has always watched the ball go elsewhere in the most crucial moments—first to lifelong pal O.J. Mayo, now to current "it" man Michael Beasley. He is a star unseen. The story of Billy Walker is not of the pressure of 10,000 glares, but of the pressure of none."

i'm not sure if i should take that as a good thing or bad. it seems as though he's good enough to produce, but has never gotten the chance. i'm not sure if the celtics is where he wants to be then. i mean, he's not going to get much playing time here i would imagine. unless he can pull a powe and produce in limited minutes, he might turn into a pruitt.

[RockinRyA]

nice read.. tp. if you could use this as motivation and work real hard, given his talent, i think hes going to succeed. plus learning from pp wont hurt 

[ManUp]

It's always good to have a player with a chip on his shoulder. Especially when the player is as talented as Bill Walker. Pre-draft and Post draft he's been talking about proving that he was a first round talent. I imagine going 47 in the second really ticked him off if he can pull a Pierce and make everyone who passed on him pay we'll be in good shape.

[Big Ticket]

Great story... I really feel bad for his knee troubles.  I remember hearing about his several years ago when he was such a huge prospect in the more serious basketball circles... I hope he regain the ability and confidence to play like that again.

[MrsNumba17]

That was nicely written.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm sure he will gel well with the Celtics.

[cdif911]

even Jordan needed Pippen

[FLCeltsFan]

Leon Powe had a similar story with 3 knee surgeries in 2 years and he came back from them to play very well.  This kid is a fighter and I think he will surprise a lot of people. 

[RonJohn]

I hope he makes it. We will see.

[jbhdva]

Reading this piece and having seen Walker play some, I think he can really relish and blossom with the Celtics. First off, we Boston fans love players like this. Strong, tough, hard work ethic, and so fourth.

Also, we don't care about superstar status, and Walker need to know this. If he plays for this team and he makes great role plays on defense and can contribute to the offense to help the team win, then we as fans will make him a star. Is Leon Powe a star? No. Is he in Boston and among Celtics fans? Absolutely!

He does have a chip on his shoulder. Okay, he's not the go to guy, but who cares. People underestimate players like Walker, Giddens, and even Powe, Big Baby and Rondo and Perk.

The fact that he isn't the "Go To" man makes him fit in well here. When you look at the Celtics, who's the "Go To" man really? KG, Pierce, and Ray are obvious choices, but you really never know. It doesn't matter, if you're on the team and if you contribute, then you're the "go to" man.

I think he'll be comfortable with his role on the Celtics. He'll be a role player, but the beauty of the Celtics is that everyone is a role player really, when you think about it. It never centers around one player. There might be games when you outshine any of the Big Three. Leon Powe has done it numerous times. Big Baby has done it, Perk has done it, Rondo has done it, Posey has done it. You never know.

Now, Walker has a chance to put the Beasley team behind him and be a part of a legacy. I think he will relish in that. He need to know that and of course we'll welcome him here.

[Montrossity]

Im really excited to see what this kid can do.  In time he has serious potential to develop into quite a player.  He will be tutored by some of the leagues best , have access to the best medical facilities in the league, and be given pressure free time to make up for lost time and develop the way he was expected to (and had been barring the injuries).

[RockinRyA]

yeah, and maybe hel be the first of his colleagues to have a ring 

i mean, milicic have one while lebron stil has none (for now)