Woj: Kemba Walker Not Interested in Knicks Contract Buyout Despite Outside Interest

The New York Knicks and veteran point guard Kemba Walker mutually agreed to shut him down for the season.

Walker would be a popular option for other teams to pursue on the buyout market, but he has no plans on agreeing to one with the Knicks.

There are a number of teams that would love to have Kemba Walker in a buyout. He isn't interested in that with New York.

Walker is focused on preparing himself for the 2022-23 season instead of joining a team that will be competing for a title this year.

A native New Yorker, Walker had negotiated a buyout with Oklahoma City to join the Knicks on a two-year, $18 million contract. Both sides had hoped that things would work out the way they did.

In 37 games, he is averaging career-lows of 11.6 points, 3.5 assists and 28.6 minutes. Walker was benched by the Knicks head coach in November but was reinserted into the lineup less than a month later.

Walker showed flashes of brilliance this season, including a 44-point performance on December 23, and a triple-double on Christmas Day. The majority of his games have been below average.

The Knicks are last in the Atlantic Division. The team will play the Miami Heat on Friday after the All-Star break. New York made the playoffs last season, but would not be in this year's play-in tournament.