Kemba Walker, Cam Newton part of Charlotte’s ultimate sports race. Who wins?
On Monday, Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker received the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The award goes to a player who embodies fair play, sportsmanship and integrity.
Walker is a player you want on your court, in your locker room and in your town. He works in his community and on his game. He worked to fix his jump shot and made the all-star team last season. He’s worked on other facets, too. Not a loud, look-at-me type of personality, he became a leader. He does not lead as if he gets paid by the word. When you work as hard as he does, you don’t have to talk all the time. Teammates follow.
The Hornets selected Walker with the ninth pick in the 2011 draft. In 2011, the Panthers selected Cam Newton with the first pick in the NFL draft.
Walker played at Connecticut. In this final season he was the Huskies’ best player and took them to the national championship. Newton played at Auburn. In his final season he was the Tigers’ best player and took them to the national championship.
Who wins a championship first?
Tom Sorensen is a retired Charlotte Observer columnist. Sign up for his newsletter, and follow him on Twitter: @tomsorensen
More from this issue of the Tom Talks newsletter:
[FAN RIGHTS: Hornets, Michael Jordan do not owe you a championship. Here’s what they do owe you.]
[THUNDER ROLLS: Russell Westbrook won MVP, but he’s not best player – or much like James or Curry]
[SUMMER FUN: 2 players on Charlotte Hornets’ summer league roster are worth watching]
[SHORT TAKES: A car wreck, not a train wreck, a possible fight, and the Walking Boss]
This story was originally published June 28, 2017 at 10:21 AM.