Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets is playing like a legitimate MVP candidate. What's behind the stunning leap in his eighth NBA season?
Walker joined fellow NBA star guard CJ McCollum on his "Pull Up" podcast on the Cadence13 network, and opened up with fresh insight into how the addition of veteran point guard Tony Parker to the Hornets has helped Walker on and off the court.
Parker, the 36-year-old Frenchman, is playing in his 18th NBA season, his first not in a San Antonio Spurs uniform. Walker, 28, told the "Pull Up" podcast he is "learning so much from [Parker> in a short period of time."
The lessons have helped Walker average 29.1 points through nine games, which ranks third in the NBA behind Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard and is nearly six points ahead of Walker's previous best for a full season (23.2). Walker has posted career-best shooting marks of 46.1 percent from the field and 40 percent on 3-pointers, and is just a tick off his career high with 6.0 assists per game.
Part of it is timing: Walker discussed with McCollum and co-host Jordan Schultz how Parker has counseled him to assert himself when things are going wrong for the Hornets, or to call plays for teammates when he's feeling tired.
"He's just helping me look at the game in so many different ways, it's amazing," Walker said. "He's so smart."
Walker said he is also amazed at how Parker functions almost as an assistant coach -- Parker will often take command of the huddle during timeouts until head coach James Borrego sits down -- and noted how that has allowed Walker to share the leadership burden on a young Hornets team.
"That's something that a lot of fans might not see, but it's important," Walker said. "That's the kind of leadership guys need. I don't think any of us really ever had that kind of leadership. For me, for a very long time, I've been the leader of this team, and to have a guy like him come in and really help with that leadership quality, it's amazing.
"I'm still one of the leaders, but I'm still learning how to be a leader at the same time, and I'm learning from one of the best to ever do it. It's been an honor to have him."
