“I just want to say that we need justice for Brionna Taylor,” began former UConn standout Kemba Walker to start his Thursday morning media availability.
Mirroring what several teammates and many other players around the NBA have been doing with at least part of their individual media availability sessions to draw attention to the slain Louisville emergency medical technician.
While the Bronx native did not linger on the killing of Taylor, the officers responsible for her death still charged with no crime since the March incident one of the most visible causes for racial justice currently being championed by NBA players in the restart, its importance to Walker was evident.
NBA releases 'It’s a Whole New Game' hype video ahead of 19-20 restart https://t.co/bc9mNDPKLA
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 22, 2020
As was getting back on the court and playing, which the former Husky will not be doing in Friday’s scrimmage exhibition against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While seeking to continue downplaying the severity of the aggravation, Walker noted he’ll be resting for that tilt as the franchise continues to ramp up his level of activity.
he also noted he’d participated fully in Thursday’s practice — part of why he’ll be sitting Friday.
“I felt good — really good, actually. It was really fun to get out there with my teammates,” Walker offered. “The knee feels good — like I said before, I’m trending upwards and doing really well. After every day that I’m running, I’m doing whatever, [and] my knee reacts really well, so I’m in a good place right now.”
When asked how he felt about his knee given the assumption it hadn’t improved over the nearly four-month hiatus, Walker pushed back.
First look at Disney restart courts with 'Black Lives Matter' revealed https://t.co/utFaUhKhTN
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 21, 2020
“It did get better over the break,” he corrected his interlocutor.
“I came back and I started to play and I was playing pick-up and stuff like that and so that’s when it kind of started to bother me,” he added. “I thought I did a great job of taking care of it, but it kind of slid up on me again. The break, still, was really good for me.”
Now I’m feeling good, I thought we made a great choice … keeping me out of these practices,” he added.
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While it is certainly normally for both players and front offices to keep critical information about the extent of injuries close to the hip, it seems here that Walker is being forthright about the impact a long-term issue he’s played through in the past.
In previous pressers, the former Connecticut guard even seemed mildly irritated by the line of questioning, though not so today.
Whatever the situation, the team will need Walker at his best to have a real shot of representing the East in the 2020 NBA Finals.
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