was a team coach New York Knicks, Tom ThibodeauThis Monday, she announced that she had decided Removed from rotation to its nominal base Kimba Walker.
“It’s a tough decision to make but you always have to do what you think is best for the teamTibodeau told the media, confirming that Walker “for the time being” will not play for the Knicks.
As Thibodeau explained it Alec Burks Tuesday will start in place of Walker in the New York duel that will pit his team against Brooklyn Nets de Kevin Durant y James Harden.
Last Saturday, Burks played as a starting player – Walker didn’t play a minute – and earned 23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in the Knicks’ victory over the Atlanta Hawks (90-99).
A four-time All-Star, 31-year-old Walker has returned to his home country of New York this season to be a key Knicks player.
however, Your performance was far below expectations The stats this season are the worst of his 11-year career.
In the 18 matches he has played so far under Thibodeau’s leadership, Walker played 24.5 minutes and averaged 11.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
For comparison, Walker played 31.8 minutes per game in the 2020-2021 season with the Boston Celtics and had an average of 19.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.
Two years earlier and with the Charlotte Hornets jersey, the base showed the best basketball of his career, averaging 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in the 2018-2019 season.
“I have great respect for who Kimba is as a person and for everything he has accomplished in this league.But I have to do what I think is best for the team.”
The coach indicated that he was thinking about the possibility of playing with three youngsters as a start with Walker among them, but in the end he did not see this idea clear.
With Burks in pole position, Thibodeau is confident of having a greater physical and defensive presence right from the start.
The Knicks are seventh in the Eastern Group (11-9), and in addition to Kemba Walker, the rest of the top five players (Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson) are under the scrutiny of the press and fans. Because of his weak performance, especially in the defensive section.
Conversely, reinforcements from the bench such as Derek Rose, Obi Tobin or Emmanuel Quakley have shone in the second unit in New York.
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