Antoine Walker

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Antoine Walker

Free Agent
Small forward/Power forward
Born: August 12, 1976 (1976-08-12) (age 32) Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight	245 lb (111 kg)
High school	Mount Carmel (Chicago)
College	Kentucky
Draft	6th overall, 1996 Boston Celtics
Pro career	1996–present
Former teams	Boston Celtics (1996–2003; 2005) Dallas Mavericks (2003–2004) Atlanta Hawks (2004–2005) Miami Heat (2005–2007) Minnesota Timberwolves (2007–2008) Memphis Grizzlies (2008)
Awards	3-time NBA All-Star (1998, 2002, and 2003)

Antoine Devon Walker (born August 12, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player. He is currently a free agent.

[edit] Pre-NBA Career

Walker attended Mount Carmel High School, where he played with Philadelphia Eagles starting Quarterback Donovan McNabb and attained all-state status as a senior, earning a full scholarship to play for Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky. He was a starting forward on the Wildcats' 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship-winning team. As a freshman at Kentucky he was named SEC Tournament MVP. In his sophomore year Antoine was named All-SEC First, All-SEC Tournament and to the All-NCAA Regional Teams.

[edit] NBA career

After his sophomore season he declared for the 1996 NBA Draft and was picked sixth overall by the Boston Celtics. In the 1996-1997 season, Walker made the All-Rookie 1st Team and led the team in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounds (9.0). However, the team had its worst season in franchise history, 15-67. The following season, Walker made the All-Star team as a reserve while averaging 22.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg. He also scored a career-high 49 points in a loss against the Washington Wizards. The Celtics posted another bad record: 36-46. In the '98 draft, the Celtics had the 10th pick and chose swing man Paul Pierce. The next few years, Pierce and Walker were the 1-2 punch for the Celtics. In the 2001-2002 season, Walker had his best overall season by helping lead the Celtics to a 49-33 record and their first playoff berth in 7 years. He was second in his team in scoring (22.0 ppg), first in rebounds (9 rpg), and 1st in assists, (5.0 apg). Pierce and Walker took the team all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they fell to the New Jersey Nets in 6 games. The next season, Walker made his 3rd All-Star team but had a sub par season. Even though he averaged 20 a game, he struggled with his shot, shooting 38.8% from the field which is extremely low for a power forward. The Celtics had a mediocre season and were swept in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals by New Jersey.

Nine days before the start of the 2003-04 season, Antoine Walker was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Walker was used in a relatively limited capacity on his new team due to the number of high-caliber players populating the Mavericks' roster. Included on that team was Antawn Jamison, newly acquired from the Golden State Warriors. On August 8, 2004 Walker and Tony Delk were traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Jason Terry, longtime Hawks member Alan Henderson and a draft pick. On February 24, 2005, Walker was traded back to the Celtics in a deal that sent Gary Payton, Tom Gugliotta, Michael Stewart, and a first-round draft pick to the Hawks^[1] (Payton was released by the Hawks and re-signed with Boston for the remainder of the season).

On August 2, 2005, Walker was involved in a 5-team, 13-player deal (the largest trade in NBA history) that sent him from the Celtics to the Miami Heat. On June 20, 2006, he won his first NBA Championship with the Heat, contributing 14 points and 11 rebounds in the final game of the series.

On October 24, 2007, Walker was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Michael Doleac, Wayne Simien, a first-round draft pick and cash considerations in exchange for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.^[2][3][4]

On June 27, 2008, Walker was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Marko Jarić, Greg Buckner, and the rights to O. J. Mayo, for Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins, and the rights to Kevin Love.^[5]

Walker is now a free agent after his contract was bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies.

[edit] Personal Life

[edit] Robberies

In July 2000, Walker and former University of Kentucky teammate Nazr Mohammed were robbed outside a Chicago South Side restaurant.^[6] In a separate incident on July 9, 2007, Walker and another individual were robbed at gunpoint by two offenders in his own house. The assailants made off with close to $200,000 worth of merchandise, including Walker's Mercedes. His car was later recovered having been stripped of its expensive aftermarket wheels and stereo system. Four men have been charged in this robbery and two of them have also been linked to the similar robbery of fellow NBA player, Eddy Curry.^[7]

[edit] Legal Troubles

On July 15, 2009, Walker was charged with three felony counts of writing bad checks related to gambling debts he had incurred at three Las Vegas casinos.^[8] Walker was arrested on July 15 at Harrah's Casino in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The charges stemmed from over $800,000 in gambling debts. Walker was in Tahoe to play in the American Century Classic, a celebrity golf tournament. Walker on July 16, posted bail and was released and will tee off in the golf tournament.

[edit] NBA career statistics

[edit] Regular season

[edit] Playoffs

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Walker returns to Celtics in shocker. Updated February 25, 2005
2. ^ By trading two more veteran starters, Wolves grow even younger, October 24, 2007
3. ^ Ira Winderman, Riley's trade stokes the Heat, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
4. ^ Wolves Nab First-Round Pick and Three Players From Heat
5. ^ Wolves pick Mayo, swap him for Love in 8-player deal
6. ^ Heat forward Walker robbed at home in Chicago
7. ^ "Man who robbed Walker gets 21 years", ESPN.com. May 5, 2009.
8. ^ Gambling woes for Walker

[edit] External links

• Antoine Walker Info Page at NBA.com

• Walker's Career Stats