Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball

Posted by Royce Young

This summer saw some unlikely free agent moves and some older players have trouble finding a home. Guys like Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady had some issues finding a suitor, while Allen Iverson is still drifting waiting for a call. So when a guy like Antoine Walker decides to come out of retirement, it's pretty safe to say the best chance he has of getting on a roster is by finding a spot on the coaching staff.

But according to his uncle Chico Walker, a former Red Sox player, "four to six teams" have expressed interest in Walker. Plus, Uncle Walker says Antoine has dropped somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 pounds working out at Louisville under former college coach Rick Pitino and is hungry to make a team. If I'm guessing, you can bet Walker has made a couple (or a hundred) calls to Pat Riley for a spot on the Heat. Walker actually spent two seasons in Miami from 2005 to 2007.

Walker isn't THAT old at 34, and was always a deep threat. But what does he have left? He was playing internationally last year and was dropped from the Puerto Rican league after appearing in only eight games and hitting just 22 percent from 3. The last time he appeared in an NBA game was 2008 with the Grizzlies. He may have slimmed up but that doesn't necessarily mean he's still got it.

Obviously Walker's motivation is cash money. He recently filed for bankruptcy and is now working to pay back the $1 million a judge said this summer he must pay some Las Vegas casinos. He's had issues in his past like a DUI charge, but maybe this attempted comeback means he's straightened things out and is looking to turn a corner. As Chico mentioned, "[Antoine] said, 'I made a lot of mistakes and I trusted the wrong people. I realized going forward I have to have positive people around me, just in life period. I have to have a lot of positive people around.’ And I think now he gets it.”

If Walker even gets a camp invite, that'll be an interesting story to keep an eye on. And if he's learned lessons and is serious about getting right financially, then Walker could be someone worth rooting for.

mavsfan00 Since: Mar 20, 2008	Posted on: August 25, 2010 8:11 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball Did you not read the article. DUDE BLEW ALL HIS MONEY. Why would a team want him to come in and mentor young players. What will he teach them besides gambling, wasting millions of dollars and taking bad shots. [ Reply to Comment ]
Moses Guthrie Since: Sep 5, 2006	Posted on: August 25, 2010 3:47 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball The saddest thing is that the players' union made it almost impossible for a guy like Antoine to come back. Remember that little lockout they had back in 1999? Part of the CBA was the graduating league minimum for veterans. The idea was as you get older, teams had to pay players a "fair" wage (for lack of a better term, and all things being relative). Now, you routinely hear about players signing for "the veteran's mimimum", which is around $1.5 million if memory serves. What Antoine is finding out is that while that sounds good, it is not always what its cracked up to be. I am sure he would LOVE to sign a deal for $750K (heck, he would probably be good with $500K), but he cannot do that. And since young teams don't need a mentor (especially like Antoine), and good teams are all near or over the salary cap (meaning his money will count double), well, lets just say they would rather sign a "never-will-be" D-Leaguer for $500K - $1Mill than a washed-up-has-been for $1.5-$3 million. Antoine was part of the group who signed that CBA, another case of bad fore-sight by Antoine. Sorry buddy, you just can't catch a break. [ Reply to Comment ]
pats_fever Since: Nov 2, 2006	Posted on: August 25, 2010 2:11 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball I never thought id agree with a Yankee fan but you are right, if the man can play and contribute to a team then someone will pick him up. Alot of haters in here jealous because they never got to live the kind of life he led. If you told me i could have 100 mil but i had to spend it all in a decade im sure i wouldnt have a problem with it. [ Reply to Comment ]
setmetheball Since: Aug 17, 2006	Posted on: August 25, 2010 12:15 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball Antonie Walker mis managed his own money! Plain and simple, gambling is one of the easiest ways to mis manage your money. [ Reply to Comment ]
natsfreak14 Since: Aug 21, 2006	Posted on: August 25, 2010 10:25 am Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball I really hope that one day, athletes will be responsible with their money. It's sad [ Reply to Comment ]
Floridabaseball Since: Oct 22, 2009	Posted on: August 24, 2010 10:01 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball Its what can you do for me now, not what you did in the past. If employee # 8 can contribute the give him a shot. There are plenty of guys on NBA rosters that are just fillers. (see the HEAT). Who cares what Walkers motivation is. Can he contribute or not ?? [ Reply to Comment ]
im2gud Since: Aug 22, 2006	Posted on: August 24, 2010 8:29 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball I think he would be fun to plahy with at the Local Y [ Reply to Comment ]
Acie-DC Since: Mar 23, 2008	Posted on: August 24, 2010 8:09 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball he shot 22 percent from downtown, couldnt even make it in the BSN, yet he thinks he can make a comeback in the NBA?? that makes sense [ Reply to Comment ]
pats_fever Since: Nov 2, 2006	Posted on: August 24, 2010 7:53 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball I am a Celtics fan and ive seen first hand that this guy was one of the better players in the league when he was in his prime. Him and Paul Pierce took a Celtics team that had nothing and i mean no bench whatsoever and took them deep into the playoffs. Was he Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant? No, but he still was a heck of a good basketball player. His problem was that like rapper mc hammer as soon as he got money he shared it with too many people and did not know how to just say no. He ended up with this Giant entourage that basically followed him around and was paid to do nothing. Add to that his taste in fine jewelry, some bad investments, possible drug use and alot of bad gambling debts and he went through 100 million dollars like it was water and now he's bankrupt. Unreal, this guy blew 100 million and now he's filing for bankruptcy? It's a shame but he unfortunately has to learn to stop letting people hang on his coat tails and stop trusting the wrong people. Take advice from people who successfully invest and make money like Jordan and stay away from people who piss theirs away. We still love him in Boston and hope he gets back on his feet financially. [ Reply to Comment ]
MrBigs Since: Jun 27, 2007	Posted on: August 24, 2010 4:44 pm Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball LOL! or a pizza hut perhaps! Seriously, I met this guy once and he was a total jerk. I wouldn't wish anything bad on anyone but you will always reap what you sow! [ Reply to Comment ]

The saddest thing is that the players' union made it almost impossible for a guy like Antoine to come back. Remember that little lockout they had back in 1999? Part of the CBA was the graduating league minimum for veterans. The idea was as you get older, teams had to pay players a "fair" wage (for lack of a better term, and all things being relative). Now, you routinely hear about players signing for "the veteran's mimimum", which is around $1.5 million if memory serves.

What Antoine is finding out is that while that sounds good, it is not always what its cracked up to be. I am sure he would LOVE to sign a deal for $750K (heck, he would probably be good with $500K), but he cannot do that. And since young teams don't need a mentor (especially like Antoine), and good teams are all near or over the salary cap (meaning his money will count double), well, lets just say they would rather sign a "never-will-be" D-Leaguer for $500K - $1Mill than a washed-up-has-been for $1.5-$3 million.

Antoine was part of the group who signed that CBA, another case of bad fore-sight by Antoine. Sorry buddy, you just can't catch a break.

Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball

I never thought id agree with a Yankee fan but you are right, if the man can play and contribute to a team then someone will pick him up. Alot of haters in here jealous because they never got to live the kind of life he led.

If you told me i could have 100 mil but i had to spend it all in a decade im sure i wouldnt have a problem with it.

Antoine Walker is still trying to play basketball

I am a Celtics fan and ive seen first hand that this guy was one of the better players in the league when he was in his prime. Him and Paul Pierce took a Celtics team that had nothing and i mean no bench whatsoever and took them deep into the playoffs. Was he Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant? No, but he still was a heck of a good basketball player.

His problem was that like rapper mc hammer as soon as he got money he shared it with too many people and did not know how to just say no. He ended up with this Giant entourage that basically followed him around and was paid to do nothing. Add to that his taste in fine jewelry, some bad investments, possible drug use and alot of bad gambling debts and he went through 100 million dollars like it was water and now he's bankrupt.

Unreal, this guy blew 100 million and now he's filing for bankruptcy? It's a shame but he unfortunately has to learn to stop letting people hang on his coat tails and stop trusting the wrong people. Take advice from people who successfully invest and make money like Jordan and stay away from people who piss theirs away.

We still love him in Boston and hope he gets back on his feet financially.

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