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Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

By Jerry Stephens

February 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) moves the ball up court against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) moves the ball up court against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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For the first time this season, the Charlotte Hornets’ point guard was named the Eastern Conference player of the week.

The NBA announced the players of the week for the games played between February 27th and March 5th. Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets was named for the Eastern Conference while Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs was named for the West. This is the fifth time in his career that Walker has been honored with the Player of the Week award.

There is some history to go along with this honor as Kemba has now tied Gerald Wallace for the franchise record of most Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards. The All-Star point guard has put up big numbers all season but he was on another level this week. Actually, Kemba has been on a tear since after the All-Star break.

The 26-year old point guard averaged 27.7 points per game, 6.3 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per game throughout the week. He also shot 42.9% from the field, 44.8% from three and 94.1% from the free throw line. Not to mention that the Hornets also went 2-1 in their three games.

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Kemba and the Hornets took on the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets during the week. They came away with wins in both LA and Denver but were unable to defeat the Suns. Despite that, Walker still played well and the 2-1 record was enough to secure the player of the week award.

During the week, the Bronx native ranked third in the East in PPG and tied for the most three-point field goals (4.3 per game). According to the release from Hornets.com, Walker was one of only two players in the Eastern Conference to average at least 25 PPG, 6 APG and 4 RPG during the stretch of games. His career best season continues to get better as he has gotten recognition by being named an all-star for the first time this year and now being named as a player of the week.

Kemba will look to continue his outstanding play going forward as his team attempts to make a late push for the postseason. He has carried the Hornets for most of this season but even his heroics haven’t been enough as Charlotte sits at 27-35. That’s good enough for the 11th seed in the East and three games out of the eighth seed.

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It will be interesting to see if Walker can keep up his stellar numbers as the Charlotte Hornets will need every bit of it if they want to make the playoffs. This was arguably Kemba’s best three-game stretch of the season and he was deserving of this award. One more player of the week honor will put him past Wallace and into the record books for the most in franchise history.

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