During the NBA free agency season, a significant player retired from the game of basketball. Kemba Walker, 34, announced his retirement.

Walker was a dominant force at UConn, leading the Huskies to a national championship in 2011, where he was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, the Big East Tournament MVP, and a consensus first team All-American.  For his efforts, he was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats (later Hornets) ninth overall in 2011, the team he remains most associated with.

Walker broke out in the 2015-16 campaign, where he was second in Most Improved Player of the Year voting and had his first of five straight 20-PPG seasons. He went to his first All-Star Game a year later and was named to that mid-season classic the next two years.  This culminated in an All-NBA Third Team Selection in 2018-19, which was his best year in Basketball.

He joined the Boston Celtics as part of a sign-and-trade in 2019 and promptly had his fourth (and final) All-Star year, but knee problems began to rear its ugly head.  Walker was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where his contract was bought out.  He finished his NBA run with a year in New York and nine Games in Dallas.

He concluded his career with one season with Monaco in the French League, where his squad won the league championship.

Walker is eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2028, though that might be a tough ask.  Hopefully, the Hornets will acknowledge him in some capacity in the future.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com wish Kemba Walker the best in his post-playing career.

A two-time NBA All-Star, Caron Butler garnered significant attention when in 2002 he led UConn to an Elite 8 appearance and was named the co-Big East Player of the Year.  He would be selected by the Miami Heat as a lottery pick but it was when he moved to the Washington Wizards where he would have his greatest individual success.  The Small Forward would have a pair of 20 Points per Game seasons (2006-07 & 2007-08) and in both of those campaigns he would be named an All Star and was a top five finisher in Steals per Game.  He would later help the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 NBA Championship.

Richard “Rip” Hamilton brings a rare resume where he won both the NCAA Championship (UConn) and in the NBA (Detroit) and was a vital member to both titles. Hamilton earned the NCAA Final Four MVP in the Connecticut title and in the 2004 Pistons Championship averaged over 20 Points per Game. “Rip” was a three time All Star, a slick shooter, and had he had a better defensive game Hamilton might be a considered a shot for the Hall of Fame. As it looks now, it might be a difficult road.