Can Kemba Walker propel his stellar play into greatness and truly turn the Hornets into contenders?

Outside of Draymond Green and LeBron James’ drama, the 2016 NBA Playoffs have proven this is a point guard’s league. Stellar performances have come from Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, and Russell Westbrook this season/playoffs. Steph Curry is in the mix, too… lol.

Because of how poorly Charlotte’s NBA history has been, starting with the 2002 Hornets relocation, they have a big focus of attention. They have spent most the past fourteen years being a laughingstock. But, they were a few errors away from 50 wins and the third seed in the East.

As much as bringing in Nic Batum and Jeremy Lin helped, Kemba Walker asserting himself made the Charlotte Hornets into contenders. Under his leadership, the Hornets notched wins versus the Mavericks, Raptors, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, and held their own against other good teams. In all of those games -sans Cleveland, Kemba Walker made himself a factor.

When the playoffs neared, Kemba Walker expressed frustration in not being expected to make the playoffs every year and wanting to do more than just appear there. For a couple of days, it seemed as if Walker was going to lead the Hornets into a winnable second round series versus the Toronto Raptors. However, Dwyane Wade’s first two three-pointers in Game 6 in Charlotte effectively ended those dreams.

Due to how the Hornets are structured, they stand the chance of losing many of their core players. However, there is the return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to look forward to. In the seven games MKG played, this past season, he showed promise in being the type of players the Hornets need in order to make their next step, which will definitely be an asset for them.

However, with all of the promise the Charlotte Hornets have and Kemba Walker’s potential, the NBA Finals have point guards, Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving facing off. If the Hornets are really going to get there, Walker has to get himself into that conversation. As good as Kemba Walker’s 2015-16 campaign was, it was a season where he contended for Most Improved Player and the fifth year of his career.

While he is still young, Kemba Walker is better suited to win now, as opposed to later. Yes, it is on the Hornets brass to bring back as much of last season’s core as possible and a suitable big man, but Kemba Walker has asserted himself as the top player on this team. He now has to really be the franchise player and lead this team to at least 50 wins and a playoff series win, if not two, in short… he needs an MVP season next year.

Playing through injury, Kemba Walker made amazing happen, this past season, and the Charlotte fans loved it, as he led them to a 48-34 record, very respectable. But, again, he has to lead this team to 50/55 wins and get this team in the conversation. He already made one big jump, but the question is if he can do it again, after all Steph Curry did and led his team to a title during his third playoff campaign and is a win away from a second in his fourth run.