Former Dallas Mavericks guard Kemba Walker has announced his retirement after a distinguished 12-year career in the NBA and a year playing overseas. Although Walker’s stint with the Mavericks was brief, featuring only nine games in the 2022-23 season, he made a significant impact with a 32-point performance against the Cavaliers.
Walker made his retirement official on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, “7PM In Brooklyn.” As a New York native, it was a fitting setting for Walker to announce his retirement on a New York-themed show.
Walker is best remembered for his time with the Charlotte Hornets, where he established himself as a star. The Mavericks had pursued Walker aggressively in the 2019 offseason, but he ultimately signed with the Boston Celtics. This move came after then-Celtics guard Kyrie Irving left to join the Brooklyn Nets. Despite being only 29 years old at the time, Walker’s knees were already showing signs of wear, limiting his tenure with the Celtics to two seasons before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Al Horford.
During his career, Walker was selected to four All-Star games and made one of the most memorable shots in NCAA history—a step-back jumper to defeat Pittsburgh, leading UConn to win both the Big East and NCAA Championships. His retirement marks the Mavericks as the final NBA team he played for, closing the chapter on a notable career.