Kenny Walker (basketball) facts for kids
Walker at an autograph signing in 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | August 18, 1964 Roberta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| High school | Crawford County (Roberta, Georgia) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Kentucky (1982–1986) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1986 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the New York Knicks | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1986–1997 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1986–1991 | New York Knicks | |||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Granollers | |||||||||||||
| 1993 | Teamsystem Fabriano | |||||||||||||
| 1993 | Cáceres | |||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Washington Bullets | |||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Isuzu Motors Lynx Gigacats / Isuzu Gigacats | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 3,128 (7.0 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 1,793 (4.0 rpg) | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Kenneth "Kenny" Walker (born August 18, 1964) is a former American basketball player. He was known for his amazing dunks, earning him the nickname "Sky" Walker. He played mostly for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 1989, he won the exciting NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Today, he is a radio host in Lexington, Kentucky.
Kenny Walker played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was recognized as one of the best college players in 1986. He was also named the top player in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) twice. The New York Knicks chose him as the fifth overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft.
Contents
Early Life and High School Years
Kenny Walker was born in Roberta, Georgia. He went to Crawford County High School in his hometown. In 1982, he was named "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Georgia. This award goes to the best high school basketball player in the state.
College Basketball Career
Walker decided to play college basketball at the University of Kentucky. During his time there, he was named to an All-SEC team four times. He was also chosen for the All-American team twice, showing he was one of the best college players in the country.
In 1984, Walker's Kentucky team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. This is a huge achievement in college basketball. They eventually lost to the Georgetown Hoyas.
In 1986, Kenny Walker set a special record in the NCAA tournament. He scored 11 times on 11 shots, meaning he didn't miss a single shot!
Professional Basketball Journey
The New York Knicks picked Kenny Walker as the 5th player in the 1986 NBA draft. He played for the Knicks for five years. On February 11, 1989, Walker won the famous NBA Slam Dunk Contest. This happened just three days after his father passed away, making his win even more meaningful. He also placed third in the 1990 contest.
Later, knee injuries made it hard for him to continue playing in the NBA. He then moved to play in the ACB league in Spain.
Walker returned to the NBA in 1993 and played two seasons with the Washington Bullets. He was a "role player," meaning he helped the team in specific ways. After that, he played a season for the Isuzu Motors Lynx/Giga Cats in Japan before he stopped playing professional basketball.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from basketball, Kenny Walker stayed involved in sports. From 2000 to 2021, he co-hosted a radio show called "Cat Talk." It was a call-in show where people could talk about sports.
Today, Walker lives in Lexington, Kentucky. He is very active in his community. He works in local radio and helps promote reading among children.
In 2018, Kenny Walker was honored by being inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. This is a special award for athletes from Georgia who have achieved great things. Other famous athletes like Champ Bailey and Arthur Blank were also in his Hall of Fame class.
See also
In Spanish: Kenny Walker para niños
