Walker confident he’ll be ready for season

Kemba Walker missed only six of a possible 328 games in his final four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.

In his first season as the Celtics point guard, though, Walker sat out 14 of the 64 games played before the NBA went on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And after a nearly four-month absence, Walker is still having to be cautious with the knee as the Celtics prepare for the resumption of the regular season on July 31 against the Milwaukee Bucks. [...]

Kemba Walker missed only six of a possible 328 games in his final four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.

In his first season as the Celtics point guard, though, Walker sat out 14 of the 64 games played before the NBA went on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And after a nearly four-month absence, Walker is still having to be cautious with the knee as the Celtics prepare for the resumption of the regular season on July 31 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Walker was on the practice floor for portions of the team’s workout on Thursday night at Disney World, but the team is not rushing him back into full-time duty after he experienced some pain during individual workouts.

With two weeks remaining before the games begin and a month to go before the start of the playoffs, Walker is confident he will not have any problems at those points.

"It’s definitely pretty frustrating just because I’m not a guy who misses many games, especially throughout the course of my career,’’ said Walker via a video conference with the media. "I’m not really concerned much, honestly, because I think I’m trending upwards and getting better and getting closer to a return. I’m fine. I’ll be back better than ever.’’

The Celtics were scheduled to have their seventh practice since arriving in Florida on Friday night, but Walker won’t be a full participant for a little while longer.

The pain in his knee returned during individual workouts at the Auerbach Center in Boston when players were allowed to return to the training facility in June.

"It was definitely a pain,’’ said Walker, who is averaging 21.2 points and 4.9 assists in 50 games. "I can’t really explain it, but it was a pain on the side of my knee that was bothering me. I don’t know what else I can say.

"Throughout my career, I haven’t missed many games and I’ve been able to play through a lot. It was bothering me, so that was the best choice for me to make to sit out.

"This is not normal for me. It’s just the smart way to go about things because I want to be at my best for my teammates and this organization when the regular season comes around and most definitely in the playoffs.’’

In eight seasons with Charlotte, Walker played only 11 postseason games in two opening-round series.

He is excited about being on a team that is currently third in the Eastern Conference and has high hopes of making a deep run. That is why Walker is taking the cautious approach now, making sure the knee is strong for what could be two months of basketball.

"I’m feeling good,’’ said Walker. "I’m just taking it one day at a time right now, just being smart, being cautious for the most part. But I’m feeling really good. We’re just taking it slowly.

"I’ll be back. The plan is just to take things pretty slow. That’s really it. I’m feeling really good right now. But we don’t want to have, I don’t want to have, any setbacks or anything like that. Just taking it slow. I’ll be back in time when things get real, for sure.’’

When Walker sat out eight of 12 games in February due to the knee injury, Jayson Tatum carried the Celtics with his offense.

If the Celtics can get Walker and Tatum producing at a high level in the playoffs, their chances for success will rise.

"I think we can be pretty tough, for sure,’’ said Walker. "Since he’s been the way he’s been, I haven’t really been able to help out like I really wanted to.

"I’m definitely looking forward to coming back and just making an impact on my teammates and just being better than I was before the season ended.’’

jfenton@enterprisenews.com

On Twitter at @JFenton_ent.