Kemba Walker's Latest Statements Make it Sound Like He's Focused on Returning to Charlotte

The Hornets may not lose out on their franchise star in free agency after all.

Kemba Walker's latest comments on free agency make it sound as though he's focused on returning to Charlotte, especially after the latest All-NBA votes made that quite the lucrative option.

"Oh no question, Charlotte's definitely my first priority," said Walker during a lunch with The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "That's where I've been for eight years and that's all I know."

The hopes of Knicks fans who imagined Walker as a franchise cornerstone are in jeopardy in the wake of this comment, due in large part to earning power.

Walker was named to the All-NBA Third Team this year, thus qualifying him for a supermax contract in free agency, allowing him to make $80 million more if he remains home. He averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists per game for the Hornets in 2019.

Walker was drafted ninth overall by the then-Charlotte Bobcats back in 2011. In his eight years with the franchise, he's scored over 12,000 points on 41.8% shooting.

Walker has established himself as one of the greatest players in the franchise's history, so it's not entirely surprising that he's giving them priority in free agency.

Whatever Walker's decision will be, it will help shape the NBA landscape for years to come as a free agent fracas gets underway.