Since being traded along with Eddie House and J.R. Giddens for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry in mid-February, Walker is averaging 10.6 points per game, more than any other player involved in the deal.
The 22-year-old saw minimal time off the bench for the C's, but he has gotten 24.6 minutes per game so far with the Knicks.
The 6-foot-6 small forward may be succeeding, but a large function of that has to do with the Knicks' place in the standings and their style of play.
With a 24-43 record, New York's focus is on next year. Walker is getting a chance to prove his mettle as the team evaluates who should be on next year's squad, according to the New York Post. The Knicks hold two successive team options on Walker after the year.
The Knicks are also coached by Mike D'Antoni, who espouses a fast-paced offensive scheme. His philosophy, chronicled as "seven seconds or less" to get the ball and shoot, fits Walker's game, according to CSNNE.com.
"Being in Boston gave him a nice foundation of how to play at this level," an NBA scout told CSNNE.com. "But he needs to be on a team that gets up and down, like the Knicks. I don't know if Boston will regret trading him, but he's definitely proving to anyone who had any doubts that he can be a good NBA player."
Walker, for his part, holds no grudge against Boston for the trade, the Post reports.
"I was blessed to be with great vets and learn from them," Walker said. "I'm just trying to implement that into my own game and create my own legacy.''
He's well on his way to proving his value to a team.
