Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier will forever be linked together in UConn history, each authors of their own near-miraculous and stirring national championship runs, and backcourt mates on the 2011 title team.
On Wednesday, the two Huskies legends met once again on the court, but this time it was in Serbia, not Storrs.
Shabazz’s Crvena Zvezda team, based in Belgrade, met Kemba’s AS Monaco in the EuroLeague. The two have met on the court in the NBA on multiple occasions, but this was a first in Europe, where Walker was making his debut after saying he was convinced to play in Monaco this season in part by talking to Napier.
Kemba Walker makes his European debut at Stark Arena with 20,000 fans against Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, a team represented by his former UConn teammate & NCAA champ, Shabazz Napier. You couldn't script a better stage for the 4-time All-Star's introduction to EuroLeague basketball. pic.twitter.com/c3AnfN89Px
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) October 18, 2023
Former @UConnMBB teammates meeting in the @EuroLeague for the first time
Kemba Walker
Shabazz Napier pic.twitter.com/Od1Q1VTq3K
— AS Monaco Basket EN (@asmonaco_en) October 18, 2023
“I’ve only heard good things about the EuroLeague and I have many friends who play in this competition. One of my closest friends Shabazz Napier gave me advice in making this decision,” Walker told the team website back in July.
The 33-year-old Walker spent 12 seasons in the NBA, was a four-time All-Star and became the Charlotte Hornets’ all-time leader in scoring, minutes and games played. He was a free agent for much of last season before latching on with the Dallas Mavericks for nine games as the team dealt with injury issues.
Napier, 32, has been playing internationally since 2021, when his six-year run in the NBA came to an end.
Walker made his debut Wednesday in Monaco’s third EuroLeague game. He had missed the first two as he recovered from nagging injuries ahead of the season. The former Husky saw only 10 minutes, scored 2 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out an assist as he got used to playing with his new teammates.
Napier scored 7 points, dished out 2 assists and had 3 steals in 21 minutes of action.
Walker’s AS Monaco team won the game, 82-76.
Both teams are now 1-2 in the competition, which much like soccer’s Champions League, pits the best teams in Europe against each other. The two are scheduled to meet again on March 8 in Monaco. The EuroLeague regular season runs through April.
𝓚𝓔𝓜𝓑𝓐
𝓜𝓘𝓚𝓔
First game together, first victory together
#EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/zLdmxrdPvp
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) October 18, 2023
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