Impressive Walker Regarded as a Piece of the Future
Apr 19 2010 3:43PM
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Bill Walker made the most of his opportunity during his first year in New York.
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With so much attention being placed on who the Knicks will bring in this offseason and how the roster will look come October, it’s easy to overlook the valuable pieces the team already has in place. Remember, there are still five players under contract, including some very promising youngsters, entering the summer.
Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari have often been referred to as the cornerstones of the franchise by Mike D’Antoni since he took over the coaching duties two years ago. Toney Douglas showed signs of becoming a very good player when he was given extended playing time in the second half of his rookie season. And Eddy Curry is expected to be fully healthy when Training Camp starts.
Then, of course, there’s Bill Walker.
One of the biggest surprises for the Knicks all season, Walker has shined since coming over from the Boston Celtics at the league’s trading deadline. Now, the Knicks consider him a “good candidate” to return next season. Walker’s contract will be guaranteed if he’s still on the team after Aug. 1.
“We like what we’ve seen,” Knicks President Donnie Walsh said. “If he shows he can put in the work this summer, he’s a good candidate depending how everything goes.”
Walker has battled knee injuries since high school and rarely played when he was on a veteran Celtics squad over the first year and a half of his career. He also spent time in the NBA D-League this season before being traded to the Knicks along with J.R. Giddens and Eddie House in a five-player deal.
But it only took one game with the Knicks before Walker became a consistent rotation player. In his first action with New York, he scored seven points in 13 minutes while facing his former team on Feb. 23. Four games later, he made his first-career start and scored 22 in a win over Detroit.
Walker closed out his first season with the Knicks with a career-high 28 points while knocking down six 3-pointers in Toronto in the season finale. The high-flying forward averaged 11.9 points on 51.8 percent shooting and 3.1 rebounds in 27 games with New York.
“He was very good in the sense that I didn’t know anything and didn’t know him,” D’Antoni said last week. “But I thought he played very well. He showed an ability to shoot the ball really well. He shot over 40 percent from three and was not afraid to take the big shot. I think he has a good feel for the game.”
Since Walker already fits into D’Antoni’s system despite only practicing with the injury-plagued team a handful of times, the only question that remains is his health. The Knicks want Walker to shed a few pounds over the summer so he can reduce the pressure on his surgically repaired knees.
“If we can get him to that weight, I think he can be very, very good,” D’Antoni said.
The Knicks are hoping that Walker can follow in the footsteps of Gallinari and avoid any injury setbacks in his second season in New York. During his rookie year, Gallinari was limited to 28 games due to a nagging back injury. This season, he played in 81 of the Knicks’ 82 games.
Be sure to Stay Connected with the Knicks as the summer of 2010 & free agency approaches. Text WIL to 564257 (KNICKS) to be entered to win a pair of Wilson Chandler autographed shoes & stay connected with the Knicks this offseason. Msg & Data rates may apply. Text STOP to quit. Official Rules/Entry.
Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari have often been referred to as the cornerstones of the franchise by Mike D’Antoni since he took over the coaching duties two years ago. Toney Douglas showed signs of becoming a very good player when he was given extended playing time in the second half of his rookie season. And Eddy Curry is expected to be fully healthy when Training Camp starts.
Then, of course, there’s Bill Walker.
One of the biggest surprises for the Knicks all season, Walker has shined since coming over from the Boston Celtics at the league’s trading deadline. Now, the Knicks consider him a “good candidate” to return next season. Walker’s contract will be guaranteed if he’s still on the team after Aug. 1.
“We like what we’ve seen,” Knicks President Donnie Walsh said. “If he shows he can put in the work this summer, he’s a good candidate depending how everything goes.”
Walker has battled knee injuries since high school and rarely played when he was on a veteran Celtics squad over the first year and a half of his career. He also spent time in the NBA D-League this season before being traded to the Knicks along with J.R. Giddens and Eddie House in a five-player deal.
But it only took one game with the Knicks before Walker became a consistent rotation player. In his first action with New York, he scored seven points in 13 minutes while facing his former team on Feb. 23. Four games later, he made his first-career start and scored 22 in a win over Detroit.
Walker closed out his first season with the Knicks with a career-high 28 points while knocking down six 3-pointers in Toronto in the season finale. The high-flying forward averaged 11.9 points on 51.8 percent shooting and 3.1 rebounds in 27 games with New York.
“He was very good in the sense that I didn’t know anything and didn’t know him,” D’Antoni said last week. “But I thought he played very well. He showed an ability to shoot the ball really well. He shot over 40 percent from three and was not afraid to take the big shot. I think he has a good feel for the game.”
Since Walker already fits into D’Antoni’s system despite only practicing with the injury-plagued team a handful of times, the only question that remains is his health. The Knicks want Walker to shed a few pounds over the summer so he can reduce the pressure on his surgically repaired knees.
“If we can get him to that weight, I think he can be very, very good,” D’Antoni said.
The Knicks are hoping that Walker can follow in the footsteps of Gallinari and avoid any injury setbacks in his second season in New York. During his rookie year, Gallinari was limited to 28 games due to a nagging back injury. This season, he played in 81 of the Knicks’ 82 games.
Be sure to Stay Connected with the Knicks as the summer of 2010 & free agency approaches. Text WIL to 564257 (KNICKS) to be entered to win a pair of Wilson Chandler autographed shoes & stay connected with the Knicks this offseason. Msg & Data rates may apply. Text STOP to quit. Official Rules/Entry.
