Video: Kemba Walker Reveals 'Pep Talk' from Michael Jordan During Hornets Tenure
Jul 5, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 25: Hornets owner Michael Jordan high fives Kemba Walker #15 after the game against the Washington Wizards during the game on November 25, 2015 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Former four-time All-Star Kemba Walker said his early career was impacted by a pep talk from NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Jordan, the owner of Charlotte when the team traded up to draft Walker out of UConn in 2011, pulled him aside for a talk during the 2012-13 season, Walker said on an episode of 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & Kid Mero.
"This was my second year in the league, and we got a couple new players, I'm young, we got a couple of older guys," Walker said (1:03:30 mark.) "I don't wanna step on anybody's toes, so I'm kind of deferring a little bit.
"I guess he realized that. So he called me into the office... he looked me in my face, he said, 'I didn't bring you here to defer. I drafted you myself, I didn't draft you here to defer. I want you to be aggressive. I want you to play how you played at UConn."
Walker finished his second NBA season having led Charlotte in points, assists and steals.
He left the NBA in 2023 as Charlotte's all-time leader in points, field goals, three-pointers and minutes played.
"He gave me the key. That was it," Walker said about his talk with Jordan. "He gave me the keys right there, I'm like, that's what I need to hit... I ain't gonna lie, in my head, I'm like, I ain't letting this man down. I'm not letting him down.
"He picked me himself, he traded up in the draft to get me, and he gave me that pep talk, I'm like yeah. This man must really believe in me."
Although Jordan sold his majority stake in the team last year, Walker remains connected to the franchise. The Hornets earlier this week announced the former point guard would be joining the team's coaching staff as a "player enhancement coach."
Kemba Walker Joins Charles Lee's Hornets Coaching Staff After Announcing Retirement
Jul 3, 2024
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 07: Former Charlotte Hornets' player Kemba Walker attends the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics at Greensboro Coliseum Complex on October 07, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
After announcing his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, Kemba Walker will now join the Charlotte Hornets staff under Charles Lee as a player enhancement coach.
Your new Charlotte Hornets coaching staff is 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟.
Walker, who played 12 seasons in the NBA, spent the bulk of his career with the Hornets, playing in Charlotte from 2011 to 2019. He will now look to guide the team as it begins a new era under Lee, who was hired in May.
Walker spent the last year playing for the French League's AS Monaco, where he helped lead the team to a championship before announcing his retirement from the game.
Walker, a four-time All-Star, averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game over the course of his career, with some of his best seasons coming in a Hornets uniform. He is also the team's all-time leader in points with 14,486.
Unfortunately for Walker, injuries derailed his career and likely added to his earlier-than-expected retirement. While he likely would have preferred to continue playing in the NBA, he now has a chance to help turn Charlotte's franchise around.
As a player enhancement coach, Walker will have the chance to develop a young Hornets roster into one that can compete in the playoffs. Charlotte has plenty of promising young talent with players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, and Walker will look to get the most out of them.
Tidjane Salaun NBA Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Hornets Roster
Jun 27, 2024
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 15: Tidjane Salaun (31) (Cholet) is all smile during warm up prior to the French National Basketball League (LNB) playoff match between the Paris Basket and the Cholet Basket at Adidas Arena on May 15, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Glenn Gervot/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The NBA's French invasion continued Wednesday night with the Charlotte Hornets selecting 18-year-old forward Tidjane Salaun with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2024 draft.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Tidjane Salaun
Position: PF
Size: 6'9", 212 lbs
Pro Comparison: Obi Toppin
Scouting Report: Tidjane Salaun produced his way into the first-round discussion this year, hitting threes and finishing plays with rare regularity for an 18-year-old in France's top league. He has also terrific 6'9" size and athleticism for a shotmaker, though he remains raw and limited with his creation and decision-making.
Salaun suited up for Cholet Basket in France's top division in 2023-24. Across 36 games, he averaged 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds. The 6'9" teenager flashed some range as well, shooting 32.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Salaun also represented France in the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship last summer. Les Bleus went on to finish fourth, and he was their leading scorer (12.9 points).
Between his ability to space the floor and his ability to rattle the rim, the Frenchman is certainly built for the modern-day NBA. He's a solid gamble to take in the first round.
2024 NBA Draft Rumors: Hornets Interested in Trade Up for Rockets' No. 3 Pick
Jun 26, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of the game at Spectrum Center on January 26, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Ahead of the start of the NBA draft on Wednesday night, the Houston Rockets are reportedly drawing trade interest for their No. 3 pick.
The Athletic's Kelly Iko reported that the Charlotte Hornets "continue to express interest in acquiring" the Rockets' first-round selection. Iko added that the Rockets could be open to negotiating with the Hornets, as "one Western Conference executive identified center Mark Williams as someone Houston could have an interest in."
The Hornets own the No. 6 pick in Wednesday's draft. After finishing the 2023-24 season with a 21-61 record and missing the playoffs for the eighth straight year, Charlotte needs to make some major moves if the franchise hopes to turn its fortune around.
The Rockets have already done some wheeling and dealing, as they agreed to a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night that gave them draft assets they could use to acquire a star player.
More in deal: Houston acquires 2029 more favorable of Dallas and Phoenix first-round pick and acquires right to swap Houston first-round pick for less favorable Dallas first and Phoenix first, per sources. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
Iko noted that Tuesday's deal is a further indication that the Rockets "are positioning themselves to be power players soon." Iko added that they "still have interest in acquiring a star during this rebuild, team sources said, but age, timeline, contract flexibility—and most importantly, timing—are all factors that will play a part in their search."
Houston finished the 2023-24 season with a 41-41 record, its first time winning more than 25 games or having a record of .500 or better since the 2019-20 campaign. Despite missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, the team appears to be headed in the right direction.
If the Rockets choose to hold onto the No. 3 pick, which originally belonged to the Nets, they will have the chance to add a talented young prospect. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted in his final mock draft that Houston would select Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard third overall.
The Rockets will be a team to keep an eye on during Wednesday's first round and the rest of the offseason, as they finally appear ready to emerge from their rebuild and compete for a playoff spot in 2024-25.
NBA Trade Rumors: Hornets, Pistons Seen as 'Clear' Partners for Unwanted Contracts
Jun 21, 2024
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 11: The Charlotte Hornets logo on a uniform against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 11, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
A pair of rebuilding teams are reportedly seen as trade partners to take on other teams' unwanted contracts this offseason.
Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, teams around the league consider the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets to be possible organizations willing to take on "unwanted salary" for future pieces and draft picks.
"League executives view both Detroit and Charlotte as clear trade partners to absorb unwanted salary in exchange for future assets and draft capital," Fischer wrote.
For Detroit, finding a new deal with forward Simone Fontecchio is an expected move this offseason. From there, Fischer reports the Pistons will look to add pieces that can help their rebuild.
"The Pistons are expected to use some portion of their $50-plus million in room to find a new agreement with trade deadline acquisition Simone Fontecchio, sources said," Fischer wrote. "Yet for the league's worst team, which recently dismissed head coach Monty Williams after previously parting ways with general manager Troy Weaver, Detroit could surely stand to add to its war chest as opposed to overpaying for veteran talent that would marginally improve the Pistons."
The Hornets, who made a few moves at the trade deadline, have a decision to make with forward Miles Bridges, and Fischer reports Charlotte could move on from him this offseason.
"Charlotte already conducted its business at February's trade deadline as a clear rebuilding seller," Fischer wrote. "The Hornets have the impending free agency of forward Miles Bridges to sort through now. And while Bridges could command upward of $30 million, sources said, the Hornets are also believed to be open to parting with Bridges by way of sign-and-trade, should a productive opportunity present itself. Charlotte, sources said, held conversations with Brooklyn about swapping Bridges in a package that would have brought Ben Simmons to the Hornets in February. Sacramento was another team that inquired about Bridges at the deadline, sources said."
Both the Hornets and Pistons finished near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in the 2023-24 season, and it's clear both are from being contenders. With the right moves this offseason, the two teams could set themselves up well for the future.
Video: NBA Star LaMelo Ball's Custom 1-of-1 Tesla Cybertruck and Details Revealed
Jun 2, 2024
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 22: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 128-125. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
When you're driving alongside Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball, you'll know it.
DreamWorks MotorSports shared a video of the Tesla Cybertruck it outfitted for the 2021-22 All-Star, giving him a design that's one of a kind. In case the subtlety was lost on anyone, decals reading "RARE" and "1 OF 1" are featured on the exterior.
"We're told the 22-year-old Charlotte Hornets guard was involved with the design and building process ... and all the logos and emblems he wanted were handmade with infrared paint that matches one of his signature Puma kicks," the site reported.
Along with the unique wrap, Ball's Cybertruck has LED lighting on the underside of the body.
Hornets fans will be hopeful the 22-year-old is able to steer clear of the viralmishaps involving the Cybertruck.
TMZ reported the sum Ball dropped on the vehicle and its accessories is unclear, but money is no object for a player who's embarking on a five-year, $204.5 million extension.
LaMelo Ball, Hornets Sued after NBA Player Allegedly Drove Over 11-Year-Old's Foot
May 21, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets brings the ball up court during the second half of the game against the Houston Rockets at Spectrum Center on January 26, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Tamaria McRae is suing LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets on behalf of her son, Angell Joseph, after she said the NBA star ran over his foot in his car while fans were attempting to get autographs following an Oct. 7 event, per Jason Stoogenke of WSOCTV.com.
An 11-year-old was waiting outside the Spectrum Center after the Hornets' Purple and Teal Day. He wanted an autograph from LaMelo Ball
His mom says Ball didn't sign anything. He sped off in his car and drove over the 11-year-old's foot, breaking it.
McRae said that Joseph—who was 11 years old at the time—had his foot broken in the alleged incident.
"[Angell] was like, 'LaMelo, I love you. I love you, sign my... give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?'" McRae noted of the moments before Ball allegedly drove off.
"I just seen my son kind of go down and I thought maybe he had dropped something," she added of the moment Ball allegedly struck Joseph's foot.
The family's lawyer, Cameron DeBrun, said no claim was filed with Ball's insurance company to pay the medical bills because the police report didn't include the NBA player's insurer or his name. He said without that information provided, their only available action was to sue Ball and the team.
The Hornets were named in the lawsuit, meanwhile, because the family felt more safety measures should have been put in place to protect fans who were going to be near the players.
Ball, 22, appeared in just 22 games this past season, as a right ankle injury cut his campaign short. He averaged 23.9 points and 8.0 assists per game while healthy, shooting 35.5 percent from three.
Injuries have limited him to just 58 games over the past two seasons, halting what was an incredibly promising start to his career after he was the Rookie of the Year in the 2020-21 campaign and an All-Star the following season.
Donovan Clingan to Hornets, Edey to Heat in ESPN's 2024 NBA Mock Draft After Lottery
May 12, 2024
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers handles the ball while being guarded by Donovan Clingan #32 of the Connecticut Huskies in the second half during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The NBA draft order is set after the lottery on Sunday, and fans and analysts now have a better idea of how teams might go about their selections.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their post-lottery mock draft on Sunday and projected where a pair of notable big men could land in the draft.
Givony and Woo project the Charlotte Hornets to take UConn star Donovan Clingan with the No. 6 pick and have Purdue's Zach Edey going to the Miami Heat with the No. 15 pick.
Clingan, who led the Huskies to a national championship last season, stands at 7'2" and is arguably one of the best prospects coming out of the collegiate ranks in this year's draft. He averaged 13 points and 7.4 boards per game in the 2023-24 season, also blocking 2.5 shots per game.
Clingan's rim protection and solid offensive game make him a sound pick for the Hornets, and at just 20 years old, he has plenty of time to develop even more.
The Hornets have a top-10 pick for a second consecutive year after taking Brandon Miller with the No. 2 pick in 2023. Miller finished third in the Rookie of the Year race after averaging 17.3 points per game.
Adding some help in the frontcourt could help Charlotte finally change the trajectory of its franchise after missing the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.
For Miami, Edey could be a perfect fit. The 7'4" senior led the Boilermakers to the NCAA tournament title game after averaging 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game last season. He put up 29.5 points and 14.5 boards per game in the tournament, including a 40-point outburst in the Elite Eight against Tennessee.
Edey has a less refined offensive game than Clingan but is adept at getting to the free throw line and scoring at the rim. Overall, he still needs to develop to keep up with an NBA pace, but Miami has done an outstanding job developing players and likely would be able to turn Edey into an everyday player in the league.
Celtics' Mazzulla Jokes New Hornets HC Lee Needs to Get Used to Everybody Hating Him
May 9, 2024
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 17: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and Assistant Coach Charles Lee look on from the sideline during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden on January 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Spurs 117-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had some words of advice for his former assistant and new Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee.
Mazzulla joked that Lee needs to "get used to" everybody hating the head coach.
"Everybody hates you," Mazzulla said. "Get used to it. You're no longer the nice, shiny toy"
"Everybody hates you... deal with it"
Joe Mazzulla shares blunt advice for Charles Lee after getting the Charlotte Hornets' head coaching job pic.twitter.com/ftgVXPro4z
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 9, 2024
While Mazzulla joked that Lee will have to adjust to the added pressure of being a head coach, he also praised him and said he's confident Lee will thrive with the Hornets.
"Happy for him, great coach, long overdue," Mazzulla said. "He's going to do a great job."
Joe Mazzulla asked by @John_Karalis if he has any advice for Charles Lee as he becomes a head coach.
Lee has coached under Mazzulla in Boston for the last two seasons and will finish the Celtics' playoff run before taking over head coaching duties in Charlotte. Before his time in Boston, he served as an assistant for various teams around the league, working for the Atlanta Hawks from 2014 to 2016 before joining the Milwaukee Bucks from 2018 to 2023.
Lee helped lead the Bucks to a championship in 2021 and is looking to help Boston do the same this year. The Celtics are currently battling the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA playoffs with Game 2 tipping off at 7 p.m. ET Thursday night. Boston has a 1-0 lead after winning the first game of the series.
Lee, who agreed to a four-year contract with the Hornets, is taking over for a franchise that has struggled for much of the 21st century. Charlotte has appeared in just six playoffs since 2000 with the latest coming during the 2015-16 season.
There is hope for the Hornets with promising young players like LaMelo Ball and rookie Brandon Miller, but Charlotte still has a long way to go to turn its franchise around. After parting ways with Steve Clifford, the Hornets are hoping Lee can be the coach to finally make a change.
Charles Lee, Hornets Agree to HC Contract to Replace Steve Clifford After Celtics Run
May 9, 2024
BRIGHTON, MA - OCTOBER 13: Assistant Coach Charles Lee of the Boston Celtics coaches during all access practice at the Auerbach Center on October 13, 2023 in Brighton, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Charlotte Hornets announced Thursday that they have hired Boston Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee as their new head coach.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Lee will finish the Celtics' playoff run before officially taking over in Charlotte. Wojnarowski also reported Lee agreed to a four-year contract with the Hornets.
Lee has been considered a head coach in the making for a few years. He was a longtime assistant of Mike Budenholzer, first with the Atlanta Hawks and then the Milwaukee Bucks. Following Budenholzer's ouster in Milwaukee, he took a job on the Celtics' coaching staff ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The Hornets' search for a new coach began on April 3, when Steve Clifford announced he was stepping down at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Beyond the fact the Hornets went 21-61 and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference, Clifford watched as a new ownership regime took over and general manager Mitch Kupchak vacated his role. He might have seen the writing on the wall when it came to his future.
This offseason presented the first real opportunity for new team governors Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin to execute the plan they laid out when they obtained control of the organization last August.
"Our vision is to take the Hornets to the next level, both on and off the court," they said at the time. "We will look to build a highly competitive basketball team, develop innovative business practices, give back to our community and connect with our fans.
"We plan to further invest in the team, the facilities and the fan experience, with the goal of delivering a winner to our fans throughout the Carolinas. We are confident that our successful business backgrounds and our previous experience as NBA minority owners will be beneficial as we shape the future of the franchise as a best-in-class organization."
Lee will have a lot of work ahead to turn around a team riding an eight-year playoff drought.
The Hornets have paid dearly for a series of misfires in free agency and the NBA draft. They've experienced plenty of bad luck, too, with LaMelo Ball the most obvious example.
Charlotte made Ball the cornerstone of its future when it signed him to a five-year, $204.5 million extension last summer. The deal was certainly defensible because a small-market franchise has to hold onto its homegrown stars, and the dynamic guard averaged 18.3 points, 7.0 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game through his first two years.
But Ball is now coming off a 2023-24 campaign where he played in only 22 games due to an ankle injury. A right ankle fracture also limited him to 36 appearances in 2022-23.
The Hornets need the 22-year-old to not only stay healthy but also get back to his best to contend with this current core.
Two straight most lost seasons for LaMelo Ball. Next year starts a five-year, 25% of the cap max deal for Ball.
Hornets have to hope they can get this figured out and get him on the court regularly. He's the most important player the franchise has and these injuries are scary.
The development of 2023 first-round draft pick Brandon Miller will be pivotal as well. The early returns on the 6'9" forward were promising as he averaged 17.2 points on 44.0 percent shooting (including 37.3 percent on threes) along with 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Miller didn't wow fans like the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren, but the potential within his game is obvious.
Between Ball and Miller, Charlotte could have the nucleus for a playoff team. It's a better starting point than some other teams have had when starting a full rebuild.
There's still a lot the ownership and the front office will have to get right in the ensuing years, but they'll have to hope that Lee can eventually help get them back to the playoffs.
