Hoops Habit
Fansided

5 players who are building their legacy in the NBA bubble

By Luke Duffy

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 28: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on January 28, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 28: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on January 28, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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NBA bubble (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

4. Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker only barely gets in ahead of Lowry, only because who Lowry is and what he is currently doing isn’t new, even if it is so impressive to watch. Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is another who had a great, although brief, playoff run and who could have snatched either of these two spots.

But before this season Walker had never been beyond the opening round of the playoffs with the Charlotte Hornets. In eight seasons there, he only got to that point twice. He has also been dealing with knee troubles for much of the year, and they kept him out of some games in their first-round win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Related Story. 25 best players to play for the Boston Celtics. light

But in this engrossing affair against the Raptors, Walker has been excellent. His 21.9 points are up a bit on his regular season number (20.4), but it is in setting the table for others and his demeanor while doing it that Walker has truly excelled and found real comfort with the Celtics.

Walker is everything Kyrie Irving wasn’t. Always looks to be having fun, enjoying the moment and not making it about him. His teammates feed off of this, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown knowing full well that if they are open, Walker will find them. That laidback attitude on a team full of young talent doesn’t always work, but it certainly is in this case.

That’s not to say Walker hasn’t helped on the court either though. If not for a miracle shot from OG Anunoby in Game 3, Walker would have set up what would have been the game-winner when he found center Daniel Theis unmarked at the basket with time essentially up. In his first real playoff appearance, and at 30 no less, he has been excellent.

These are the highest stake games that Walker has played in since leading the University of Connecticut to a national championship in 2011, but you wouldn’t know it from how he is handling the situation. A conference finals appearance would only add to what has already been a very good postseason, but no matter what Walker finally has a couple of postseason moments.