Charlotte Hornets’ Kemba Walker might play sometime next week

Based on a very positive medical report Wednesday, Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker might be playing again sometime next week.

The New York-based doctor who operated on Walker’s left knee to repair a torn meniscus has fully cleared Walker to practice, including contact drills. With that in mind, coach Steve Clifford said it’s possible Walker will be ready to play March 11 against the Sacramento Kings or March 13 against the Chicago Bulls.

That schedule would be a best-case scenario, based on the timeline established after Walker had surgery Jan. 28.

“That’s what I’m hoping,” Clifford said. “He came in last week and said, ‘I think I can play either (the Kings) game or Chicago. He’s ready to get out there. Now they will amp up his workouts and see how he feels – how the knee reacts to more work.”

The Hornets will have a day off Thursday following back-to-back games, so the earliest Walker will practice is Saturday before the team flies to Detroit for Sunday’s game against the Pistons.

Clifford said Walker has been allowed to do far more on the court than center Bismack Biyombo could while recovering from a deep knee bruise.

“I think he’ll be able to play, maybe not his normal minutes, but quite a few minutes” right away, Clifford said before Wednesday’s game against the Nets.

This story was originally published March 4, 2015 at 9:12 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets’ Kemba Walker might play sometime next week."