Antoine Walker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Antoine Walker

Walker coaching in the Nike summer basketball Chi-League in 2014
Personal information
Born	(1976-08-12) August 12, 1976 (age 48) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
High school	Mount Carmel (Chicago, Illinois)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky (1994–1996)
NBA Draft	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career	1996–2012
Career history
1996–2003	Boston Celtics
2003–2004	Dallas Mavericks
2004–2005	Atlanta Hawks
2005	Boston Celtics
2005–2007	Miami Heat
2007–2008	Minnesota Timberwolves
2010	Mets de Guaynabo
2010–2012	Idaho Stampede
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2006) 3× NBA All-Star (1998, 2002, 2003) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1997) NCAA champion (1996) First-team All-SEC (1996) SEC tournament MVP (1995) McDonald's All-American (1994) First-team Parade All-American (1994)
Career NBA statistics
Points	15,647 (17.5 ppg)
Rebounds	6,891 (7.7 rpg)
Assists	3,170 (3.5 apg)

Antoine Devon Walker (born August 12, 1976) is a former American professional basketball player. He was picked sixth in the 1996 NBA draft after playing for the University of Kentucky. Walker played in the NBA from 1996 to 2008.

He played for several teams, including the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He also played for the Mets de Guaynabo and the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede. Walker retired from basketball in 2012. He was a three-time NBA All-Star. He won an NCAA championship with Kentucky in 1996 and an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.

Early Basketball Career

Antoine Walker grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Mount Carmel High School. There, he played basketball with future NFL star Donovan McNabb. Walker was a top player in high school. He earned a scholarship to play for the University of Kentucky.

At Kentucky, he was a starting forward. His team won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game. As a freshman, he was named the SEC Tournament's most valuable player. In his second year, he continued to excel. He was named to the All-SEC First Team.

Playing in the NBA

Boston Celtics: A Rising Star (1996–2003)

After his second year at Kentucky, Walker entered the 1996 NBA draft. The Boston Celtics chose him as the sixth overall pick. In his first season (1996–1997), Walker was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He led the Celtics in scoring with 17.5 points per game. He also led the team in rebounds with 9.0 per game.

The next season, his college coach, Rick Pitino, became the Celtics' new coach. Walker became an NBA All-Star that year. He averaged 22.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He even scored a career-high 49 points in one game. His success led him to be featured on the cover of the video game NBA Live 99.

In 1998, the Celtics drafted Paul Pierce. Pierce and Walker became a strong duo for the team. In the 2001–2002 season, Walker had one of his best years. He helped the Celtics reach the playoffs for the first time in seven years. He was second in scoring, first in rebounds, and first in assists for his team. Walker and Pierce led the team to the Eastern Conference finals. They lost to the New Jersey Nets in six games. The next season, Walker was named an All-Star for the third time.

Moving to Other Teams (2003–2005)

Before the 2003–2004 season, Walker was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He played in every game for Dallas that season. However, he had a smaller role because the team had many talented players.

In August 2004, Walker was traded again. This time, he went to the Atlanta Hawks. He played for the Hawks until February 2005. Then, he was traded back to the Boston Celtics. He wore a different jersey number for a short time. He played 24 games for the Celtics, averaging 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. The Celtics made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

Miami Heat: NBA Champion (2005–2007)

Walker won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006.

On August 2, 2005, Walker was part of a huge trade. This trade involved five teams and 13 players. He moved from the Celtics to the Miami Heat. At the Heat, Walker mostly played off the bench. He adjusted to this new role and became a key player. He averaged 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He was the team's main scorer from the bench.

In the playoffs, Walker's performance improved. He was the third-highest scorer for the team. He made important three-point shots. Miami reached the NBA Finals and played against the Dallas Mavericks. Walker averaged 13.8 points per game in the series. The Heat won the NBA championship in 6 games. In the final game, Walker scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. His production went down in the 2006–2007 season. The Heat did not win the championship again that year.

Later Career (2007–2012)

In October 2007, Walker was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played for them for one season. In June 2008, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He did not play any regular season games for the Grizzlies. He was released in December 2008.

In February 2010, Walker signed with the Guaynabo Mets. This team is in Puerto Rico. He played there for a short time. In December 2010, Walker joined the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. He played with them for two years. In April 2012, Walker announced his retirement from basketball.

Personal Life

Walker in December 2005

Antoine Walker was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Mount Carmel High School.

Walker faced financial difficulties after his basketball career. In 2010, he filed for bankruptcy. He had earned over $108 million from his NBA salary. However, he had more debts than assets. His championship ring had to be sold. By August 2013, Walker announced that he was debt-free.

After retiring, Walker became a basketball analyst. He worked for 120 Sports and SEC Network.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See Also

In Spanish: Antoine Walker para niños

• List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders