Knicks fans will file into Madison Square Garden for Wednesday's season opener with a justified sense of excitement, as New York runs it back with Tom Thibodeau at the helm following a surprise 41-31 campaign last year.
The excitement will be elevated for Kemba Walker, who will step on the floor of the World's Most Famous Arena in a home jersey for the first time in meaningful game action, making his Knicks debut in his native city and on the court where he blossomed into a superstar during his college days.
"I'm from here, and I'm in a Knick uniform, that's definitely gonna make it 10 times more special," Walker said. "I'm excited for that. This has definitely been a dream come true for me to be able to play for this organization. It's going to be a special moment."
For Walker, the anticipation will be even more heightened given the opponent coming into town. The Celtics, Walker's former team, traded him to the Thunder shortly after Brad Stevens changed roles with the franchise, and Walker will have a chance to prove Stevens wrong for that move on Wednesday night.
"I don't know if that's a question for me, to be honest," Walker said when asked why he thought Boston decided to move on. "Yeah, I don't know. I don't think it had anything to do with my basketball skills. I think it was more my health. But yeah, I don't know if that's really a question for me."
Walker appeared in 99 games for Boston over two seasons, but wishes nothing but the best for his former teammates, except on Wednesday.
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"I had a great time," Walker said. "I had great teammates. I loved those guys…I went to an Eastern Conference Finals, made some great friends. It was a great time. I loved it."
But that doesn't make Wednesday's motivation and less for Walker, who will be even more determined to get a win over his former group in his homecoming debut.
"Does it matter? Of course," Walker said. "It's my old team. Yeah, it matters."
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