Samaki Walker facts for kids
Samaki Walker at the White House in 2002
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1976 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Louisville (1994–1996) |
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall |
| Selected by the Dallas Mavericks | |
| Pro career | 1996–2011 |
| Career history | |
| 1996–1999 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1999–2001 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2001–2003 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2003–2004 | Miami Heat |
| 2004–2005 | Washington Wizards |
| 2005–2006 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2006 | UNICS Kazan |
| 2007 | Santa Barbara Breakers |
| 2007–2008 | Al-Jalaa Aleppo |
| 2008–2009 | Club Sagesse |
| 2009 | Shandong Lions |
| 2009–2010 | Seoul SK Knights |
| 2010–2011 | Al-Jalaa Aleppo |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,376 (5.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,089 (4.7 rpg) |
| Blocks | 316 (0.7 bpg) |
Samaki Ijuma Walker (born February 25, 1976) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was known for playing as a power forward and center. Samaki played college basketball at the University of Louisville. He was then drafted into the NBA in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks. His NBA career included playing for famous teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won a championship. After his time in the NBA, Samaki played for teams in different countries around the world.
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Samaki Walker's Early Life and Basketball Start
Samaki Walker was born in Columbus, Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children in his family. He went to two different high schools: Eastmoor High School and Whitehall-Yearling High School.
College Basketball Success
Samaki was recruited by coach Denny Crum to play for the Louisville Cardinals at the University of Louisville. He had two very good seasons there. Samaki made history for his school by getting the first "triple-double" ever. This means he had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 blocks in one game. This amazing game was against their rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats. His 11 blocks in that game, and the team's total of 17 blocks, were also new school records.
After two successful years, Samaki decided to leave college early. He chose to enter the 1996 NBA draft. He was picked ninth overall by the Dallas Mavericks. On draft day, he caught everyone's eye by wearing a cool all-white suit with a matching fedora hat.
Samaki Walker's NBA Journey
As a 6-foot-9-inch power forward, Samaki became the youngest player to ever play a game for the Dallas Mavericks. During his rookie year, the team's coach, Don Nelson, made many changes to the team. Samaki actually became the player who had been with the Mavericks the longest, even though he was still a rookie! In the 1997–98 season, he had his best numbers for the Mavericks, averaging 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Playing for the San Antonio Spurs
In the summer of 1999, Samaki signed a two-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs. They were the champions at the time. He chose to sign a smaller deal with the Spurs instead of staying with Dallas. He wanted to play with and learn from great players like David Robinson and Tim Duncan. He played two years with the Spurs as a reserve player, meaning he came off the bench.
Winning a Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers
In 2001, Samaki joined the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers had won two championships in a row and needed a power forward. Samaki became a starter in most of his games, playing in 63 out of 69 games. He averaged 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He even played as a center when superstar Shaquille O'Neal was injured. He scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
During the 2002 Western Conference Finals, Samaki made a three-point shot at the end of the first half in Game 4. The shot counted, but replays showed he released the ball after the buzzer. Even though it was a close call, the Lakers won that game by one point. This moment helped the NBA decide to use instant replay to review plays in the future.
The Lakers went on to win the NBA Finals, beating the New Jersey Nets in four straight games. This win gave Samaki his first and only NBA championship ring. Shaquille O'Neal even said that Samaki's play against Chris Webber of the Kings was important for their championship run. Samaki was the last Laker to wear jersey number 52 before it was retired to honor Jamaal Wilkes.
The next year, Samaki was mainly a backup player. The Lakers' three-year championship streak ended when they lost to the Spurs. After that season, Samaki became a free agent. The Lakers then signed Karl Malone, which meant Samaki's time with the team was over.
Later NBA Teams and International Play
Samaki later played for the Miami Heat in 2003 and the Washington Wizards in 2004. He had some injuries during these years and played in fewer games.
He also had a short time with the Indiana Pacers during the 2005–06 season. He tried out for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2007 but didn't stay with the team.
In 2006, Samaki played a few games for a Russian team called UNICS Kazan. He then joined Syria's Al-Jalaa Aleppo in 2007. With Al-Jalaa, he helped them win the Syrian D-1 championship in 2008.
Samaki also played for the Chinese league's Shandong Lions in 2009. He then played for the Korean Basketball League's Seoul SK Knights. In 2010, he returned to Al-Jalaa Aleppo and won a second Syrian League Championship with them. He retired from basketball shortly after that.
Samaki Walker's Personal Life
The name "Samaki" means "fish" in the Swahili language. Samaki Walker has three children: two sons named Dibaji and Jabari, and a daughter named Sakima.
After his nephew passed away in 2001, Samaki joined a group called Start-A-Heart. This group helps provide special devices called automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and other public places. AEDs can help save lives when someone has a sudden heart problem. Samaki also spent time creating the Life Choices Foundation. This group helps young people in inner-city Los Angeles stay out of trouble.
See also
In Spanish: Samaki Walker para niños
