Walker and Yi knew each other prior to Bucks training camp, having met one another earlier this summer. (Getty)

Print

E-mail

RSS Feeds

FastBreak

Tix

October 15, 2007

MILWAUKEE -- For over three months, the members of the Milwaukee Bucks waited with great anticipation for the team's 2007 first-round draft pick, Yi Jianlian, to make his on-court premiere in a Bucks practice uniform.

One of them got a sneak preview, and you couldn't blame him if he spilled at least a few of the beans to his teammates, because what he saw excited him.

Samaki Walker, a 10-year National Basketball Association veteran who signed a free-agent contract with Milwaukee on Sept. 25, did not play in the NBA last season. He was going through a routine workout at his gym over the summer when he was surprised by a rangy visitor who turned out to be none other than Yi.

"I didn't have any intentions of coming back to the NBA at that point," Walker said. "I was just doing a routine workout at my gym. One day, the big fella walked in, we bonded from there, and one workout turned into two and so forth."

Walker discovered quickly that the Bucks were getting a special player and person. The sneak preview met with rave reviews.

"The guy's athleticism and skill at his position is subpar to none at that position," Walker said. "This kid can light it up from 17 to 18 feet, he can put it on the floor at 6-11 or 7 feet, he can make things happen. Once you've seen Yi's footwork and his mechanics, you can't help but be impressed."

"He can be as good as he wants. The kid is going to be an All-Star, without question, if he wants to be. He can be if he wants to be. He has All-Star potential, and I'll say that with total realism. The sky is the limit for him."

Walker analyzed Yi in much the same way that a scout would.

"I'm very impressed with his skill set," he said. "I was really impressed with his speed, his strength -- even though he's a slender guy, his base is very solid. And he's not afraid of contact.

"A lot of times, when you get guys from overseas, adjusting to the physicality of the NBA game is the biggest adjustment that most of them have to go through."

Walker could tell that Yi had been prepared for NBA-style banging better than most young foreign prospects.

"I think somebody has gotten to him early, and he understands that mentally right now, and he's making the mental adjustments to be a physical player," Walker said. "And it's showing."

Walker was not as surprised as many of the Bucks were to see Yi make a smooth transition into the team's practices when he arrived on the third day of camp.

"His English is good," Walker said. "We talked a lot this summer and communicated very well.

"For him to be able to come out to his first practice in one day and pick up the triangle (offense), the coach has to have a lot of confidence in him. And he mixed it up a little bit, too."

The 6-foot-9-inch, 250-pound Walker, who has spent his 10 previous NBA seasons with Dallas, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Washington and Indiana, is one of few players in Milwaukee's camp who does not have a guaranteed contract, but that hasn't stopped him from being a valuable asset. He is approaching matters like the consummate professional the Bucks believed him to be.

"Actually, I really wasn't contemplating playing this year," he said. "I think it was a combination of playing with Mr. Yi this summer, and being seen by his trainers. I also worked out with Kiki Vandeweghe. I think they were impressed to see that this old guy was still in shape, and they recommended me to the Bucks.

"I was back home in Columbus, Ohio, and they invited me to camp. It was an opportunity for a veteran player. I'm on a make-good contract; it's not guaranteed."

Walker has embraced the opportunity enthusiastically.

"Whether I make the team or not, it's an opportunity and a platform to build relationships," he said.

Coach Larry Krystkowiak has been impressed with all of the players' willingness to share the ball, and has noted the improvement of their help defense as well. Walker, though, might be the most selfless player Krystkowiak has in camp.

"For me, this is a good fit," Walker said. "As a veteran, it's really not about me. It's about me being able to come back and establish relationships with these younger guys.

"I've been a world champion playing with guys like the Shaqs, the Tim Duncans and the David Robinsons. I've acquired a lot of knowledge playing for coaches like the Phil Jacksons and the Pat Rileys."

One of Walker's prime objectives has been sharing his veteran savvy.

"There are a lot of things that I've learned that I feel these young guys can benefit from," he said. "This is a youthful league. It's younger than ever. Though at 31, I'm not an old man, I am next to these guys. So let's not be mistaken. This is a young league, and these guys are the future. This is not about me or resurrecting my career.

"I'll probably play a few more years and I'll be done. This is an opportunity for me to build relationships and focus on life after basketball. I'm really heavily into my foundation and working with youth and things like that. This is a platform for me to build as many relationships as I can and enjoy doing something I love to do: playing basketball."