Coach Kemba: The Kemba Walker Thread

[fatlever]

divac was 100% more impactful player than okafor, but sadly, only 2 years. he really made that team cook with his passing. okafor was such a robot.
cambell was also probably more impactful than okafor. clearly, i'm down on okafor.
shame brad miller only played 1 year with us
magloire was ok and in conversation
pj brown gets an honorable mention

[fatlever]

honestly okafor is so far down my big man list... lol
bigs i'd take over okafor
zo
jefferson
divac
campbell
pj brown
coleman
mark williams
diaw
magloire (maybe, he was a stiff)
you could talk me into zeller as well. and maybe chandler, maybe gattison
lol... zero respect for okafor and his 15/11 2 blocks lol. he just limited what you could do on both ends.

[Bassman]

honestly okafor is so far down my big man list... lol
bigs i'd take over okafor
zo
jefferson
divac
campbell
pj brown
coleman
mark williams
diaw
magloire (maybe, he was a stiff)
you could talk me into zeller as well. and maybe chandler, maybe gattison
lol... zero respect for okafor and his 15/11 2 blocks lol. he just limited what you could do on both ends.

Man, all this recollection of big men made me want to look up Armon Gilliam, who I really liked as a Hornet. He played about 1-1/3 seasons prior to being traded to Philly. He averaged almost 20 PPG and 9 rebounds. Shocked to find out he died at 47 after collapsing during a basketball game at a fitness place in 2011. Not sure how I missed that, but RIP.

[Rich4114]

divac was 100% more impactful player than okafor, but sadly, only 2 years. he really made that team cook with his passing. okafor was such a robot.
cambell was also probably more impactful than okafor. clearly, i'm down on okafor.
shame brad miller only played 1 year with us
magloire was ok and in conversation
pj brown gets an honorable mention

I concur with this. Divac is what helped bring that squad together and actually be a contender. What a front court we had. Rice/Mason/Divac. 56 and 57 win seasons yet due to division stuff and being in the same division as the mid 90's Bulls, we were only the 4th seed lol

[Rich4114]

honestly okafor is so far down my big man list... lol
bigs i'd take over okafor
zo
jefferson
divac
campbell
pj brown
coleman
mark williams
diaw
magloire (maybe, he was a stiff)
you could talk me into zeller as well. and maybe chandler, maybe gattison
lol... zero respect for okafor and his 15/11 2 blocks lol. he just limited what you could do on both ends.

Man, all this recollection of big men made me want to look up Armon Gilliam, who I really liked as a Hornet. He played about 1-1/3 seasons prior to being traded to Philly. He averaged almost 20 PPG and 9 rebounds. Shocked to find out he died at 47 after collapsing during a basketball game at a fitness place in 2011. Not sure how I missed that, but RIP.

We could have a whole list of twilight centers too. Robert Parish, Dwight Howard, Roy Hibbert, etc.

[fatlever]

gilliam was a black hole, bad defense, zero passing, but he could score. his best asset was as a jazz bass player. traded for mike gminski, 5 years too late. but, yeah, very tragic early death, same as mason.

[Rich4114]

gilliam was a black hole, bad defense, zero passing, but he could score. his best asset was as a jazz bass player. traded for mike gminski, 5 years too late. but, yeah, very tragic early death, same as mason.

Don't forget Robert "Tractor" Traylor, RIP

[Bassman]

Kemba is a city and team treasure, and so glad he’s here to help these players. Ultimately, the coach and assistants AND players must hold everyone accountable to doing the work, getting better and keeping focus. Kemba had great talent but he worked his azz off to achieve. Good lessons to share.

[Robot Rock]

shame brad miller only played 1 year with us

He played two: 1998-99, and 1999-00. He absolutely beasted the Celtics in the final game of '99.

Watch on YouTube

[Robot Rock]

Every time I click that video, I have to watch the whole thing. I was at the Hornets/Bulls game the week before (a close win), the second NBA game I'd ever attended. That team was really deserving of a playoff berth but between Rice's holdout and the slow start it wasn't in the cards over 50 games.

[GoBobs]

Watch on YouTube

and if you think May is fat....

Watch on YouTube

;t=550s

[Robot Rock]

RR's all-Hornets Team:

First Team: Mourning/LJ/Rice/Dell/Kemba
Dell's the top SG. He averaged 14 ppg over 10 seasons. Eddie Jones had a better best season, but was here just two years.

Second Team: Divac/Bridges/Wallace/Jones/LaMelo
LaMelo gets the nod here over Baron Davis and Muggsy because Davis was here only three seasons, and Muggsy's numbers just don't quite compare.

Third Team: Big Al/Okafor/Mashburn/Terry/Muggsy
Terry definitely deserves to be here.

Fourth Team: Dwight/Mason/Tripucka/Jackson/Davis
Yep, a one-year guy, because he had an incredible season by Hornets C standards, and a solid season by his career standards (plus he only missed one game). And don't sleep on Tripucka, who shot the 3 well and averaged 22 ppg in '89.

Honorable Mention: Brevin Knight and Gerald Henderson
Underrated PG who deserves more praise. I'm including a Duke player somewhere.

[LofJ]

Great interview with Kemba. He said he's here to help get the Hornets back on track and be part of something special. And he's excited to work with LaMelo.

https://youtu.be/526HI6KanJs?si=cvRtuDqRqxWVH1Zk

[Liver_Pooty]

Great interview with Kemba. He said he's here to help get the Hornets back on track and be part of something special. And he's excited to work with LaMelo.

https://youtu.be/526HI6KanJs?si=cvRtuDqRqxWVH1Zk

This melts my heart. Him and newton never left charlotte and love the city. Unfortunately, or fortunately rather the hornets are much closer to relevancy.

[JDR720]

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