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Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker forming early chemistry with C’s young core

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 06: Boston Celtics teammates Marcus Smart #40, Jaylen Brown #33, Jayson Tatum #34 and Kemba Walker #26 of the 2019 USA Men's National Team pose together during a practice session at the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team World Cup minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on August 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 06: Boston Celtics teammates Marcus Smart #40, Jaylen Brown #33, Jayson Tatum #34 and Kemba Walker #26 of the 2019 USA Men's National Team pose together during a practice session at the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team World Cup minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on August 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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New Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker is already enjoying playing around his young teammates Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

There is already a different aura around the Boston Celtics this summer than there was last summer.

At this time last summer, fans and just about everyone in the NBA stratosphere had the deep and talented Celtics as an NBA Finals contender.  However, this summer, due to a disappointing 2018-19 NBA season and the loss of All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, the team is barely on anyone’s radar despite signing All-Star guard Kemba Walker.

While some may argue that Walker and Irving are not on the same level talent wise, Walker still brings scoring to the team.  Most importantly, he brings a new attitude and intensity to winning that should rub off nicely on the young players Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has decided to build around.

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With an opportunity to play with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart as part of the FIBA World Cup of Basketball training with the US Men’s National Basketball team, Kemba Walker has gotten an opportunity to build some early chemistry with his new teammates.  It’s a rare opportunity that should give the team a jolt going into the 2019-20 NBA season even if all four do not make the team.

When asked about his new teammates following a US Men’s basketball practice in Los Angeles, Walker lauded his new teammates as great to be around while also applauding their experience at such a young age.

"“They’re just some really good young dudes and I just enjoy being around them,” Walker told NBA.com’s Sekou Smith.  “And the age difference is really crazy to me.  J.T. is like 21 and J.B. is 22 and Marcus is 25.  And I’m 29 and feeling like, wow, this is cool.  It sounds crazy.  I remember when I was 21 in this league.  I was a rookie and just trying to figure it all out.  And these guys are young vets already.  Like I said, it’s crazy.”"

Although both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took somewhat of a step back last season, the entire experience of that season should help them take a leap forward in the upcoming season.

Adding a player like Kemba Walker, along with the growth of Marcus Smart as a leader will help that progression.  While expectations are still high, the entire Boston Celtics team should also benefit from less pressure being placed upon them to take the Eastern Conference.  That doesn’t mean the players themselves don’t still have those high expectations of themselves.

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In all, Walker finds himself in a situation in which he doesn’t need to be the main guy and he appears appreciative of the opportunity, especially with the young talent he has around round.  If you are a Boston Celtics fan, that sounds very refreshing especially after what the team endured last season with Kyrie Irving trying to figure out how to be a leader and mesh with the young guys.

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