Kemba Walker was nearly a Knick before the Celtics reached out

Boston All-Star point guard Kemba Walker was nearly a New York Knick before the Celtics reached out in free agency this summer.

Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker very nearly became a New York Knick instead of a Celtics in free agency this summer.

The Bronx native revealed he had had plans to return home to the Big Apple this summer on the Ringer podcast “R2C2” this week — at least before the opportunity with Boston opened up.

Asked if he was serious about joining the perennially dysfunctional franchise, the former Husky standout replied in earnest:

“To be honest, yes. Yes, very serious. Very. At one point, Before Boston actually came along, the Knicks [were] one of my top priorities actually because I was thinking they were going to get another player, but it didn’t work out … That’s really all I can say though, that the Knicks were definitely a priority for me at one point.”

Whoever the mystery player was, the UConn product claims it was not now-Brooklyn Nets guard Kevin Durant.

What sold him on the Celtics instead?

“The talent level. The young talent now that was around here, man. [Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown] JB. And those two guys, [Marcus] Smart, Gordon [Hayward] of course, and I just felt like it was just perfect,” he offered.

“It was just perfect. Never in a million years [did I think] I would play for the Celtics when the opportunity came around. It was kind of surreal, actually. Such a big-time organization and for them to want me to represent the organization was just a really cool moment for me. I also got the chance to talk to [Tatum] and be around him for a little minute before I actually signed with them.”

“I got a chance to spend some time with him and I just really liked how [he] carried himself and how hard he worked and just the kind of person he was, but that intrigued me as well to know sign with the team,” Walker added.

The Celtics’ winning culture is another reason the New Yorker chose Boston over his home state.

“When you walk around in … the practice facility the arena, you see the banners — they expect to win. Everyone who plays for them expects to win as well. So that’s really why I love it. I love to win and I want to win, so that was kind of an easy choice.”

With the Celtics having an outstanding season fueled by Walker’s leadership as much as the play, Boston is undoubtedly as happy as the four-time All-Star is with the Celtics.

And with the path the NBA Finals as open as it has been in a very long time, the addition of Walker to this young and talented roster on the rise has proven an excellent one after a season tainted with disappointment.

Already beloved in New England for his championship at Connecticut, the hope is he’ll be instrumental in bringing another title to the northeast with Boston, and judging on the results so far, it’s within reach at the Disney restart.

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