The Walter McCarty Interview
By: Michael D. McClellan | Friday, March 30th, 2012
The Wildcats reached the Final Four in Pitino’s first season as head coach, falling to a Michigan team headlined by the Fab Four: Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard and Jimmy King. This Kentucky team belonged to All-America Jamal Mashburn, and while it battled valiantly before losing to the Wolverines 81-78 in overtime, there was little doubt that Pitino & Co. would soon be back on the national stage.
Flash-forward to McCarty’s senior season, where he found himself playing on a team loaded with future NBA players such as Delk, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, Antoine Walker, Nazr Mohammed, Wayne Turner and Mark Pope. The team finished the season 34-2, capping it all with a 76-67 win over Syracuse for the national championship.
McCarty found himself selected by the New York Knicks with the 19th selection in the 1996 NBA Draft. It was the culmination of countless hours of hard work, the realization of a dream once thought unattainable. To McCarty, it didn’t matter that he’d joined a veteran Knicks team where minutes would be hard to find. He was going to play with some of the biggest names in basketball, and calling guys like Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, John Starks, Charles Oakley and Buck Williams teammates.
The Knicks would finish the season at 57-25, eventually falling to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. McCarty would play in 35 games, starting zero, with most of his minutes coming at garbage time. It was a sobering experience for the rookie, and one that he used constructively. McCarty understood that the Knicks were loaded with great professional players, and he also knew that he wanted to play in the league for as long as possible. So instead of sulking about minutes or playing time, he decided to learn as much as possible from his veteran teammates.
McCarty took those things with him the following season, when he arrived in Boston via trade and found himself reunited with former UK players Walker and Mercer. Assembling a nucleus of Wildcats was no accident; Pitino, hired away from Kentucky and facing the formidable task of rebuilding the Celtics, knew that McCarty, Walker and Mercer would help bring the energy needed to help duplicate the success enjoyed in Lexington.
At least that was the plan at the time.
Pitino, given complete control of the Celtics, made a serious of questionable trades. He also tried to implement an up-tempo system that works well in the college ranks but hasn’t yet translated to the NBA level. It was a recipe for disaster, and one that lasted 34 games into Pitino’s fourth season as head coach.
And while Pitino was unable to resurrect the Celtics proud tradition, McCarty quickly carved out a niche as a productive big who could run the floor and who was happy to do the dirty work. He would go on to play 7+ seasons in a Celtics uniform, becoming a fan favorite in the process for his gutsy play, hustle, and penchant for making the big shot. He started. He came off the bench. He didn’t whatever was asked. He was also a favorite of former Hall of Fame player and current announcer Tommy Heinsohn, who often exclaimed "I love Walter!" after some of McCarty's plays.
In February, 2005, McCarty was traded, along with an undisclosed amount of cash, to the Phoenix Suns for a second round pick as a result of the Celtics' youth movement. He would play 36 games with the Los Angeles Clippers the following season before retiring as a player from the NBA, proving capable enough to play in the league for 10 seasons, well above the league average.
That McCarty didn’t have the opportunity to play for an NBA Championship doesn’t leave him feeling incomplete. He is thankful for the NBA experience, and grateful for being traded to the Boston Celtics. He loves the city and its fans, and he knows that he gave it his best each and every night.
And while he misses the competition, the talented ex-Celtic has found a way to fill the basketball void: McCarty has proven to be an accomplished singer and independent artist, specializing in the smooth stylings of soul and jazz. The former Celtic crafts soulful and pop songs drawing from his influences in old-school Motown and the R&B of the 90’s. Yes, McCarty has surprised his fans by transitioning from Sixth Man to soul man.
Celtic Nation is proud to bring you this interview.