Retired Kemba Walker returns to Charlotte to join the Hornets coaching staff

Just a day after Kemba Walker announced to the world that he will retire from professional basketball, he revealed that he is returning to the place where he first found success in the NBA. Yes, the former All-Star will be part of the Charlotte franchise for the 2024-25 campaign, not just as a player, but as part of the team's coaching staff.

The Hornets recently announced him as a player development coach, which sounds fitting for an athlete who has won three All-Stars during his eight years with the team. Also, Kemba is still the franchise's all-time scoring leader with 12,009 points.

Besides playing in North Carolina, the 34-year-old player also took his talents to represent the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks. Before finally calling it quits, he decided to try European basketball last year and signed for French club As Monaco.

Kemba Walker joins the Hornets staff for the 2024-2025 season, @ShamsCharania

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“This has all been a dream,” the four-time NBA All-Star said in a statement posted on social media. “When I look back, I still can't believe the things I have achieved in my career.”

Walker is convinced that he would not have been able to achieve success without the people around him. “I know I couldn't have gotten to this point without your incredible support.

“There are many people I have to thank – my mother, father and my whole family, my teammates who have become family, and the coaches who believe in me and bring out the best in me,” he wrote. “Basketball will be a part of my life forever so this is not goodbye. I'm excited for the next one.”

Unfortunately for the guard, he's seen his career derailed by injuries over the past few campaigns, including his 37-game season with the Knicks two years ago. He signed with the Mavericks in November 2022, but was waived three months later in January after playing 9 games for Dallas.

NBA stars pay tribute to Kemba after he announced his retirement, as many players in the game look to him as an inspiration.

If there's one thing we know for sure about Kemba Walker's basketball career, it's the fact that it touched many athletes along the way, including young NBA players who saw him as a huge inspiration growing up. The truth is, he started influencing the people around him since he won the NCAA National Championship with the Huskies in college.

“Without a doubt, one of the greatest players I've ever coached,” former UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “But combining that with having a great family and being one of the best people and teammates a basketball team could ever have.”

Another who offered some words of praise was New Orleans center Cody Zeller. “[I] he did all the work by setting screens, getting out of the way and letting you do the rest,” the Pelicans big man shared.

As icing on the cake, Celtics stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and coach Joe Mazzella also extended their congratulations to the recently retired star. “It's been an honor and a privilege to be a teammate, from a kid who literally grew up and watched you in the NCAA tournament and watched you in the league,” the veteran player revealed in Kemba's video.