Four-time All-Star Kemba Walker’s stay in New York City has come to an end.
Knicks President Leon Rose released a statement Wednesday saying Walker and the Knicks agreed the 31-year-old will sit for the rest of the season.
“We fully support Kemba’s decision to shut it down for the remainder of the season and use this time to prepare for next season. His long-term success on the court remains our priority.”
Statement from New York Knicks President Leon Rose on Kemba Walker pic.twitter.com/n0dpbJd2zl
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) February 23, 2022
The Knicks will work with Walker’s agents to find the Bronx native a new landing spot for next season, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Walker has been in and out of the Knicks lineup the past two months with knee soreness.
The six-foot point guard had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in 2015 and 2016 and suffered a bone bruise to that same knee last season.
“We knew there was risk involved,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Walker’s health Wednesday. “And we thought it was worth it.”
Just a month ago, Thibodeau was optimistic about Walker’s return.
“He’s close,” Thibodeau said of Walker before a game against Dallas last January, per the New York Post. “He’s not quite there. I think the soreness is pretty good. It’s just ramping everything up again. He’ll know. We’ll see how it goes when we get him in and get some work in, see how it responds.”
Walker is averaging 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for the Knicks in 37 games this season.
The 11-year veteran spent his first eight seasons in Charlotte and was a fan favorite before joining the Celtics in 2019.
He spent two seasons with Boston before coming to the Knicks, but his inconsistent play at the start of the season and the Knicks’ depth in the guard position led to Walker losing his starting spot.
Walker has career averages of 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.