Let’s start at the end because, as The Kemba Walker Watch reached Day 7, it was what the All-Star point guard said about his sore knee to close out his first Zoom session inside the Bubble that might calm Celtics fans the most.
"I'm not really concerned much, honestly, because I'm trending upwards and I'm getting better and I'm getting closer to a return. So, yeah, I'm fine, ” Walker said Thursday night after going through what coach Brad Stevens termed “a couple portions” of a “fairly light” practice.
"And I'll be back better than ever, I think.”
To be clear, there was no question mark or hesitation after the, "I think." It was a firm, "I think." As in, "I’ll be back better than ever, so stop asking me all these questions about my knee.”
We’d by lying, however, if we told you it was safe to walk away from Walker’s chat without any reservations about whether that knee will be an issue during the restart.
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Walker was low energy during his session and, even though that’s pretty much his typical demeanor, he set up that strong finish by noting things like: “It's definitely pretty frustrating [to be sidelined], just because I'm not a guy who misses many games.”
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He also didn’t have a timeline for his return while offering, "I don't know but I'll be back … I'll be back in time when things get real, for sure.”
Walker admitted that the minor discomfort he experienced after starting back up individual workouts in Boston was maybe more than minor.
"It was definitely a pain. I can’t really explain it, but it was a pain on the side of my knee that was bothering me,” said Walker. "I don’t know how much else I can say. Throughout my career, I haven’t missed many games, and I’ve been able to play through a lot. It was bothering me, so that was the best choice for me to make, was to sit out. Like I said, this is not normal for me, being out like this, but the smart way to go about things because I want to be at my best for my teammates and this organization when the regular season comes around and most definitely in the playoffs.”
Walker started by saying he was “feeling good." By his second answer he said he was, “really good.” But he stressed that he doesn’t want to experience any setbacks.
“Just being smart, being cautious for the most part,” said Walker.
And, thus, the Walker Watch will continue as Boston reporters stationed 1,200 miles away try to gauge just how much of an issue this knee really is, all while not having our usual behind-the-scenes looks at practices or shootarounds.
One thing that Walker said that should inspire confidence is how he feels about Boston’s chances if he does get back to full health. Echoing a sentiment of disappointment with how he was playing before the season paused, Walker expressed a desire to perform closer to his All-Star level when he is back on the court.
"I think we can be pretty tough, for sure,” said Walker. "Since [Jayson Tatum’s] been killing it the way he's been, I haven't really been able to help out like I really wanted to, so yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and making an impact on my teammates and just being readier than I was before the season ended.”
The lingering question: Can Walker get there? The NBA playoffs start in a month and Boston’s success might hinge on just how good that knee is feeling in mid-August and beyond.
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