Charlotte Hornets: Will Kemba Walker’s relationship with Michael Jordan keep him in Charlotte?

Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker will be a free agent this summer. Will his connection with Michael Jordan factor into his decision?

Being viewed as the greatest player of all time by many (including me), Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan has made a huge impact on players all across the world, including starting point guard Kemba Walker.

During a recent sneaker shopping trip with Complex, Walker explained how being signed to Jordan Brand was a dream for him. You get the sensation that he feels the same way about playing for him.

"“It’s a dream come true, man.” Walker said. “In college, even in high school, I played in J’s, in college I played in J’s. One of my dream was always to be signed with the brand, Team Jordan. So, it’s a dream, man. Dream come true, man… I can’t put into words how hyped and truly fortunate I am to be able to be on the brand.”"

Walker entered the league signed with Under Armour, but signed with Jordan Brand in 2015. Since then, he’s been one of the stars of the company, along with Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and more.

Jordan’s impact on the Hornets franchise is evident. Charlotte is the only team in the league with the Jordan’s Jumpman logo on their jerseys, rather than the Nike swoosh. Most of the players rock Jordan’s shoes, and he’s stated his desire to re-sign Walker on multiple occasions.

Walker himself typically wears Air Jordan 10’s, which is a killer shoe. His favorite shoe, though, would be the Air Jordan 12’s. This guy has great taste, right? I love it.

Walker and Jordan clearly have a strong relationship, and Walker himself has shown so much loyalty to the franchise. Will this bond come into play during Walker’s free agency? Hornets fans certainly hope so.

If Walker does leave during the summer, you can’t really blame him. During his time in Charlotte, he’s grown so much and has acted like a true professional, despite the lack of success. He’s probably the greatest Charlotte Hornets player of all time.

I believe that Walker will appreciate the effort that Jordan and the front office have made. It hasn’t been easy, but the team has clearly tried to build winning teams around him.

Sadly, bad contracts have haunted the Hornets and limited their options when it comes to upgrading the roster. However, if they can get a spot in this years playoffs, maybe that will be another sign that the franchise is devoted to winning now.

Michael Jordan has taken a lot of heat during his time as the Charlotte Hornets owner, but if he can convince Walker to stay in town and re-sign with the Hornets during the summer, fans would quickly change their tune.