Kemba Walker joins Hornets coaching staff a day after retirement

Kemba Walker is returning to the Charlotte Hornets — but in a different kind of role.

The 34-year-old, who announced his retirement on Tuesday after 12 NBA seasons, is joining Charlotte as a player enhancement coach, the team announced

“Basketball will forever be a part of my life so this isn’t goodbye. I’m excited for what’s next,” the four-time NBA All-Star said in his retirement statement on social media.

What’s next is joining first-year head coach Charles Lee’s staff in Charlotte.

Walker brings plenty of familiarity to the Hornets, with whom he spent eight seasons after being drafted No. 9 overall in 2011.

He holds the franchise records for points, field goals, 3-pointers, free throws and minutes played, while being second in the Charlotte books in assists, third in steals and games played.

He also suited up for the Celtics, Knicks and Mavericks at the end of his 12-year career, which came after an award-filled three years at UConn, capped by a national championship in 2011.

Injuries marred the final seasons of his career, with knee issues shortening his homecoming with the Knicks in 2021-22.

He had a few stellar moments at the Garden, including a 44-point blast against the Wizards on Dec. 23, 2021 and a triple-double on Christmas Day, after 37 games, he and the team decided he would not play for the rest of the season before Walker was dealt to and bought out by the Pistons.

Walker signed with the Mavericks that November on a one year, non-guaranteed deal and was waived in January 2023 after making nine appearances for the team.

He finished his NBA career with 19.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game, then spent his last season overseas with AS Monaco.

Walker now returns to Charlotte hoping to help end the team’s eight-season playoff drought.