Semi Ojeleye's prayer answered with Kemba Walker's better-than-expected status

Share

BOSTON -- Semi Ojeleye had no idea what was going on after teammate Kemba Walker collided with his midsection and fell to the ground, motionless for a few minutes in what felt like a few eternities for the Celtics.

So Ojeleye did what has come naturally to him since becoming a Celtic.

He prayed, joined by his teammates who encouraged him to lead the group in prayer - similar to what he did shortly after Gordon Hayward’s season-ending ankle injury in 2017. 

“So we huddled up and prayed that it (Kemba’s injury) wouldn’t be as bad as it looked,” Ojeleye said following Sunday’s practice. 

Needless to say, Ojeleye’s prayer was answered. 

Team officials say that Walker sustained a neck strain injury, and is listed as doubtful for Monday’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

Boston has also called up two-way contract player Tremont Waters from the Maine Red Claws to provide added depth in the backcourt with Walker unlikely to suit up against the Kings.

The fact that Walker is even healthy enough to potentially play speaks volumes to how his injury wasn’t as severe as it appeared to be at the time. 

As you can imagine, Ojeleye has not completely shaken the sequence of events that led to Walker’s injury. 

“At first, I remember Kemba hitting me, (Marcus) Smart got the ball, kind of running out and he (Walker) wasn’t moving, so at first … I’m scared. I’m worried about my teammate more than anything else. He wasn’t moving. It didn’t look good. I was concerned about him at that moment.”

His concerns were shared by the rest of the Celtics who have seen more than their share of players go down with head/neck injuries in recent years. 

Ojeleye said the challenge of continuing to play when something like Walker’s injury happens, is daunting. 

“In that moment, I wasn’t thinking about the game anymore,” Ojeleye said. “I’m thinking about my teammates, especially with me being involved in the play. It’s one thing to see it, it’s another when you’re involved. At that point, it wasn’t about basketball anymore. I know the game is important, but with an injury like that, I’m wondering if he’s moving, talking, walking. I couldn’t really think about the game.”

But there were the Celtics, fighting their way back into the game after a 19-point deficit before ultimately coming up short 96-92. 

This team is too good for moral victories.

But there was definitely an uplifting dynamic in how they responded to the adversity of losing Walker, whose better-than-expected diagnosis, to Ojeleye, serves as an example of having one’s prayers answered. 

“I needed that reminder in that moment,” Ojeleye said. “That God is still looking out for us even when we don’t know what’s going on.”

Don’t miss NBC Sports Boston's coverage of Celtics-Kings, which tips off Monday at 7 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live, then Mike & Tommy have the call of the game at 7:30 p.m. You can also stream the game through the MyTeams App.

Contact Us