Antoine Walker, a former three-time NBA All-Star, opened up about his emotional reaction to being traded by the Boston Celtics in 2003. Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast with Jeff Teague, Walker shared how deeply the trade impacted him, reflecting on the bond he had built with his Celtics teammates.
“I’m not going to lie, man. I’ll keep it real—I cried like a baby,” Walker admitted, via HoopsHype. “I couldn’t believe I got traded, bro.” His reaction was rooted in the belief that the Celtics were on the cusp of becoming a dominant force in the Eastern Conference.
Walker highlighted how close the team had come to breaking through, recalling their 2002 Eastern Conference Finals loss to the New Jersey Nets. “I felt like we were right there, like we were ready to turn the corner. It hurt… We were starting to get to that next level, and then, to get traded—it was tough,” he said.
Despite the initial shock, Walker acknowledged the positives that came with the trade. Sent to the Dallas Mavericks, he joined a star-studded roster featuring Michael Finley, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Sixth Man Antawn Jamison.
“The best thing about my trade, which a lot of people don’t understand, is that I got a chance to go play with three great players, man,” Walker shared. “Damn, I had a whip down there! I went to a situation where I knew I was going to win, and I didn’t have to do it all.”