University of Connecticut Athletics
Kemba Walker Again An NBA All-Star
1/25/2019 7:59:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former UConn All-American Voted As All-Star Starter
UConn Athletic Communications
Jan. 24, 2019
For the third consecutive season, former UConn All-American Kemba Walker is an NBA All-Star selection.
This year, however, the honor comes with a bonus – make that, two.
Not only has Walker has been voted in as an NBA All-Star starter for the first time, but the Charlotte Hornets guard will be playing the game in front of his home fans at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Sunday, Feb. 17).
Walker, a Bronx, N.Y., native, is in his eighth NBA season after being drafted by Charlotte in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft with the ninth overall pick. He is having his best overall season, averaging 25.0 points and 5.7 assists per game and earlier this year became the all-time scoring leader in the history of the Charlotte franchise.
Walker is part of the 10-player pool – two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference -- who were voted in as starters by a combination of fans, players and media. The two top vote-getters, LeBron James of the L.A. Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, will serve as team captains and draft players from the pool for their respective teams, without regard of their conference affiliation.
They will also draft the All-Star reserves from a pool that includes former UConn star Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons. Drummond, in his seventh NBA season, is already a two-time All-Star pick.
Walker, 28, had an outstanding three-year career at UConn from 2008-11, leading the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA National Championship as well as the 2011 Big East Tournament Championship in a spectacular 11-0 postseason run. Walker, named the Most Outstanding Player in both tournaments, was a consensus All-American and won the Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award.
Walker still holds the UConn single-season records for points scored (965), field goals made (316), free throw made (258) and minutes played (1,543) and his 1,783 career points still rank ninth on the all-time UConn scoring list. He was named to the Huskies of Honor in 2011.
Walker's All-Star selection marks the 21st for a former UConn player, led by 10 by Hall of Famer Ray Allen, and also including three by Richard Hamilton and Walker, two each by Caron Butler and Drummond, and one by Clifford Robinson.
