Danny Ainge gives update on Kemba Walker’s first season, knee health

Boston Celtics team president gave us an update on the state of Kemba Walker’s health at his end-of-season press conference Thursday.

Kemba Walker may be new to the organization, but it was evident to team president Danny Ainge that something wasn’t right with the former UConn standout when he was playing for the Celtics in the Disney NBA restart.

Speaking to the media on Thursday about the season the Celtics just finished and what might be on the horizon, the Celtics president shared his thoughts on Boston’s biggest offseason signing, and his future in terms of Walker’s health.

“I don’t know the offseason answers yet,” he cautioned.

“We are in the process probably over the next week to plan for Kemba in the offseason regardless of what the medical tests come back [as], … but there’s no surgery needed that I’m aware of at this time,” Ainge clarified.

“I wasn’t there; I was watching from here. But I could see even when he was in here before the bubble started [something wasn’t right], which is why he was shut down a little bit and was doing strength training and tried to prepare himself for the playoff run and the intensity of the playoff run.”

“But he was definitely not himself,” added Ainge.

The Celtics chief was careful to note Walker did not in any way use the knee issues as a crutch to explain his postseason performance, even if it would have been warranted.

“In fairness to Kemba, he doesn’t want to say that to our coaches,” explained Ainge. “He doesn’t say that to you the media. He doesn’t say that to me.”

“I haven’t heard one excuse from him. But watching the games, even games we won, even games were played well, I could tell he wasn’t the same physically as he was in October, November, December So we’re going to try to get him back. I know Kemba wants to be out, be back 100% playing his best basketball. Even not his best, he still averaged 19 or 20 points a game … in the playoffs.”

“He’s still a really good player,” added the Oregon native. “But I think that he’s not what he was.

There’s nothing more frustrating for an athlete to be on the biggest stage in the world, in your sport, and not be able to be yourself,” he suggested. “And I’ve been there before as a player.”

“It’s not fun, it’s stressful. And Gordon [Hayward] and Kemba were trying to do that. I know everybody has being banged up a little bit this time of year but I’m seeing those guys were limited on what they could do from what we were used to seeing out there.”

“He’s a player that has understood how special it is to be here and have these opportunities that he’s never had in his career,” noted Ainge.

The New Yorker has been the lynchpin of the team’s chemistry this season in spite of the knee issues, which the Boston president was careful to mention.

“He has a smile on his face, he has brings joy to the game, to the team, and to the entire organization on a daily basis,” shared Ainge. “And he’s just great to be around. That’s why I just feel so bad. It’s his first time on this on this big of a stage. And he gave everything that he had, and he played well, but we know that he wasn’t himself.”

“He’s a terrific leader, and a terrific teammate,” offered the former Celtics shooting guard.

It is absolutely true that Walker’s value far exceeds the counting stats he provides as a player.

But it is also true that the Celtics will need the Bronx native as healthy as they can have him next season to maximize their odds at winning a title as a hopefully-long window has already opened.

Given the former Husky has had knee issues dating back to his meniscus surgery in 2015 and has played plenty of high-level basketball since, there is reason for optimism.

But that his knee still bothered him with nearly four months off is something to have us monitoring the situation closely, too.

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