There was a point in time when everybody wanted to be like the Golden State Warriors.
Not just because of their exceptional talent, or their ability to dominate on both offense and defense but because of the spirited play that you almost always saw from them. Warriors weren’t just the team’s nickname, it doubled as a descriptive for the team’s resilience and determination.
The same word can be used to describe Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker.
At least, that’s how his new coach — Celtics head coach Brad Stevens — sees it.
He’s seen it in the huddles and on the floor. The world saw it first when he was leading UConn to a national championship.
In between the time he spent with the Huskies and leading the Celtics to comeback wins over a Milwaukee Bucks team lead by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Walker battled to bring the Charlotte Hornets our from the NBA’s basement, proving his toughness and his resolute attitude were intangible qualities that he would have throughout his career.
On Wednesday night, as Boston was in the midst of a second half that saw them outscore the Bucks 74-47, Walker didn’t take over just with his scoring though he would tally 21 of his team-high 32 points in the two final frames. Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum combined to score 21 points in the third quarter, and they were able to do that in part because of the trust he has for his teammates and the confidence he’s gives them to play their games.
The mark of true leadership.
Whether the Celtics make a deep run into the postseason or not, one thing is for certain. Kemba has taken Boston by storm and he’s become beloved rather quickly. Considering his character off-the-court is even more well-received than his performances on it, it’s unlikely that Celtics fans — or the organization— will have a change about him any time either.
Boston may not be the new Golden State but they have mirrored them by acquiring a team full of warriors. In the summer, that could make all the difference between an early playoff exit and a surprise entry to the conference finals. Or beyond.
