Kemba Walker got Antoine Walker’s blessing to wear No. 8 with Celtics
Kemba Walker is continuing the rich tradition of Walkers playing for the Boston Celtics, and he has officially gotten the thumbs-up from the OG.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, the new Celtics guard said that he got the blessing to wear the No. 8 jersey for the Celtics from previous holder Antoine Walker, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Kemba Walker says he chose to wear No. 8 because his birthday is May 8, and “There are no numbers left.” Said he talked to Antoine Walker and got his blessing to wear the number, too.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 17, 2019
Kemba, who agreed to a four-year, $141 million max contract with Boston this summer, used to wear No. 15 for the Charlotte Hornets. Antoine, meanwhile, sported the No. 8 jersey for the Celtics throughout his seven seasons with them from 1996 to 2003, making two All-Star teams over that span.
Getting the blessing of prior jersey owner is far from unheard of — even LeBron James asked permission from the Lakers’ previous No. 23.
