Kemba Walker focused on building chemistry and staying healthy for the Knicks

Kemba Walker had shown little for the Knicks to get excited about much of the night Monday. But in a flurry late in the game with the result still in the balance, there was a moment.

He had run a play with Julius Randle, freeing the Knicks star for a three-point field goal, and then with the Knicks up by six on the 76ers he repeated the set, but this time the defense floated to Randle and Walker burst into the lane, dropping in a floater over the outstretched hands of the defense and drawing a foul. After completing the three-point play, he started back to the other end, but snuck back in, stealing the inbounds pass from Danny Green and starting a play that Randle completed with a putback, and the celebration was on.

For Walker, it has been that way through the start of the season. Moments. Brief lights to provide a hint that he is the player who made his reputation in New York City and now, many years later, can lift the Knicks. But he is picking his spots, in games and in what games.

He sat out the night before against Cleveland, the first night of the Knicks' first back-to-back set this season. He said before the season began that there were no plans in place to sit out back-to-backs as he did last year in Boston. But he opted for rest now in hopes of being there when it counts.

"Just playing it by ear," Walker said Monday night. "Just felt like it was a good time for me to sit. That was on me to sit, to get some rest. It’s a long year. I’m not going to play every game, so I just thought that was probably when I should sit out. And it worked out."

He said the decision was his alone this time, a decision that the Celtics made for him last season. The Knicks lost Sunday without him and while he is averaging 12.2 points, which would be the lowest since his rookie season if it continued, he has performed better in the wins than losses, averaging 3.6 more points while shooting 50% from three in the wins and just 31% in the losses.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said with the team 11 games into the season — 10 for Walker — that Walker has begun to find a chemistry with Randle, a key to anywhere this team will go this season.

"It was good," Randle said. "I think we took a step forward today. All of us. Learning and figuring each other out and stuff like that. So we’ll keep building on that."

"Yeah, it’s only going to get better," Walker said. "What are we, 10, 11 games in? It’s still so early, man. We’re still trying to figure each other out. But yeah, as long as we keep communicating, which we are, me and him, us as a team, we’ll continue to grow. That’s what it’s about."

For now, it’s about growth and health. And Walker insists he has his eyes set on both.

"I feel great, man," Walker said. "I feel great. I’m trying to continue to feel great. That’s why I sat out, which is the hardest part for athletes, in general, staying healthy. It’s hard. We play a lot of basketball. We do a lot of traveling. We play hard every single night, 82 games. So, I’m just trying to stay there.

"I’ve learned a lot. But I wouldn’t change anything for the world. I’ve had a great career. It’s been fun. I’m still going. I’m still going. I’m trying to stay as healthy as I can. The healthiest guys win games."

By Steve Popper

steve.popper@newsday.com@StevePopper

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.