Kemba Walker, a four-time NBA All-Star and former NCAA champion, recently revealed his favorite basketball player. Surprisingly, it isn’t the universally revered Michael Jordan. Walker, who announced his retirement from basketball this offseason, shared that his favorite player is none other than Carmelo Anthony.
In the second episode of SKWEEK podcast series “Best In Class,” Walker opened up about his basketball journey and his admiration for Anthony. The series, known for providing unique insights into the lives of top athletes and coaches, features Walker sharing stories from his personal and professional life.
Walker explained why Anthony, not Jordan, holds a special place in his heart. “He wasn’t my favorite player. My favorite player is Carmelo Anthony. He always has been,” Walker said during the interview. He also revealed that Anthony inspired him to wear the number 15, a number Anthony sported during his collegiate days at Syracuse and early NBA career with the Denver Nuggets.
Walker’s deep connection to Anthony goes beyond admiration. As a fellow New Yorker, Walker grew up watching Anthony’s rise, from his dominant college run at Syracuse to his prolific scoring in the NBA. “People always asked me why him? Because he’s a great,” Walker added.
In the interview, Walker also reflected on key moments from his NBA career, including his difficult decision to leave the Charlotte Hornets in 2019. “It was tough in Charlotte because we were always kind of stuck in the middle of the standings,” Walker recalled. His move to the Boston Celtics was driven by a desire to make a deeper playoff run and fulfill his championship aspirations.
Another major turning point came when Walker was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He shared his emotional reaction to the trade, noting that it was the first time he had been traded in his career. “The first time is always hard. I was like, ‘Well, OK.’ But I knew where it was coming from. My knee wasn’t right,” Walker admitted, referring to the injuries that hindered his performance during his later years in the league.
