Former Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker suffered a scary head injury last night, but there has been some positive developments since then.
Many Charlotte Hornets fans tuned into the Celtics/Nuggets and saw their former captain, Kemba Walker, laying motionless on the floor for what felt like hours. The star point guard was eventually put onto a stretcher and a spine board and was wheeled out of the building after taking a nasty hit to the head.
Walker was going after the ball and ran head first into his teammate, Semi Ojeleye. He had body hunched over and his head down, which made the impact even more frightening. My instant thought was that this could be a serious neck injury, but thankfully, it looks like he escaped something major.
The Celtics initially diagnosed him with concussion-like symptoms, but would provide further update after some time in the hospital. Head Coach Brad Stevens eventually told reporters that Walker underwent tests, but they came back negative.
#NEBHInjuryReport Kemba Walker has been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms. He is being transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 23, 2019
Man, am I happy to hear this positive update. You never like seeing a player get hurt, of course, but considering how bad the injury looked, this is very good news.
Walker spent eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 19.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 619 games with the franchise. He signed with the Celtics during the off-season, which has given him the chance to play for a playoff contender.
He gave the Hornets everything he had during his time in Charlotte, which is why most fans were understanding with his decision to sign elsewhere. The fan bases’ love for him has not gone away, even though he is wearing green instead of teal these days.
While it was certainly what I expected, it was awesome to see the Hornets community come together and send well wishes to Kemba Walker. Yes, he’s no longer in Charlotte, but he’ll be honored by this city for the rest of his life.
I don't care what colors he wears now, that'll always be our point guard! All of Buzz City is with you @KembaWalker!
— Swarm and Sting (@SwarmnSting) November 23, 2019
He may have dodged a bullet, but Walker will still likely be on the sidelines for a few weeks, I would think. The league’s concussion protocol can be a long process, and after a tough hit like that, I would expect it to be a tad lengthy in this case.
Walker has been Boston’s best player during the first 15 games of the season, leading the Celtics to an 11-4 start. They are already without Gordon Hayward, who suffered a broke hand earlier this season. The injury bug has hit the NBA hard over the past few weeks.
The Celtics take on the Hornets for the second time this season on December 22nd in Boston. They’ll be in Charlotte again on the 31st of December.
We here at Swarm and Sting are glad to hear that Kemba Walker has avoided a serious injury. We wish him the best in his recovery and pray that he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season. He’s one of the most likable guys in the league, and we want to see him do work in the playoffs!