Antoine Walker

Hearing his name called behind a delighted crowd at No. 6 in the historically-great 1996 NBA Draft, Antoine Walker — fittingly dressed in sunglasses and a shamrock-green suit — couldn’t help but agree that his clothing choice was certainly the right choice. The future’s brightness level couldn’t be seen nor predicted just then, but over the following seven seasons, the Boston Celtics found that plenty more sound decisions were yet to come. 6-foot-9 with rare open-floor abilities and playmaking vision, Walker introduces the Philadelphia 76ers to one example, rhythmically dribbling past halfcourt before unleashing a pinpoint, off-hand dime to a cutting teammate, elevating Boston’s lead to 23. Rewindable passes became a trend for the 1996 NCAA champion, as he worked no-look shovels and over-the-head feeds throughout the unselfish showcase. Surviving the 76ers’ ferocious late-game charge, Walker’s contributions — highlighted by nine points in the back-and-forth fourth — helped Boston avoid dubious history in the second-to-last game on April 18, 1997. Quietly among the NBA’s elite triple-double producers with 15 over his career, Walker produced the type of performance that ultimately inspired All-Star nods and a video game cover, recording 23 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one rejection.

Rookie Year

Top Shot Debut