Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker is on the Verge of Making History
Kemba Walker has made major strides in his outside shooting over the years and now he is on the verge of making Charlotte Hornets’ history.
Despite the Charlotte Hornets struggles this season, Kemba Walker has had a year to remember. It might become even more memorable as he chases a piece of franchise history. With only three games left in the season, the All-Star point guard is only six three-point field goals from breaking the team record for the most three’s made in a single season.
Jason Richardson currently holds Charlotte’s franchise record for made three-pointers in a single season with 243. (Wikipedia.com) He set that mark back during the 2007-08 season and since then, no one has even come close to matching that. For the first time since that year, a Hornets’ player is not only on the verge of breaking that record but this is also the first time one of them has made more than 200 three’s in one season.
Kemba has made 238 three’s in 78 games this season while shooting 40.2% from deep. He has come a long way from the player who only made 107 three-pointers at 32.2% in his first full season. During Walker’s first three years, he only made a combined 285 three’s. He has nearly matched that mark this season alone.
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The 26-year old has made great progress with his jump shot as he’s worked tirelessly over the past few years. Opponents used to go under screens and make him shoot but now they are being forced to try and run him off of the three-point line. His hard work has paid off as Walker is currently fourth in the NBA in made three’s this season behind only elite sharpshooters like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and James Harden while being tied with Eric Gordon. (NBA.com)
It is pretty crazy that Kemba’s name is being mentioned among these players when just a few years ago he was considered, at best, a spotty shooter. After making a career-high 182 three’s last season, Walker has shattered that mark this year. He also became only the 12th player in NBA history to record at leat 230 three’s in a single season. (Twitter/NBA.com)
Kemba already holds one franchise record for points scored in a single game but he does not have any single-season records just yet. With only a few games left in the year, Walker needs to sink six more three’s (two per game) in order to set a new record. He would not only hold a piece of Hornets’ history but he would also help cement himself as a Charlotte great.
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With the Charlotte Hornets out of the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if Walker plays his regular minutes down the final stretch of the season. If he does, it’s safe to say that Kemba will break Richardson’s record. This would also be a small bright spot for the team in a rather disappointing campaign.