BOSTONKemba Walker has no regrets about his decision to leave UConn early and pursue his dream of being an NBA player.
From all that he had been told, the transition would not be easy.
It would require hard work, dedication and a willingness to constantly look for ways to improve.
And while Walker knew that being taken as a lottery pick would likely mean more losses than he experienced with the Huskies, nothing could have prepared him for what the Bobcats are dealing with now.
Tuesday's 94-84 loss to Boston dropped Charlotte to 3-22, and just as significant, extended their losing streak to 12 in a row.
Walker, to his credit, is doing what he did best in college - score points.
He came into Tuesday's game averaging a respectable 12.3 points per game. Against the C's, he had 16 points to go with seven rebounds.
"It's a grind. It's tough to win at this level," Walker told CSNNE.com. "And we have a young team. A lot of our veteran guys are hurt. The core guys we have our pretty young, and playing right now."
That promise of potential improvement has to include Walker, who will likely be chosen as one of the participants in the Rookie-Sophomore game during All-Star weekend.
Walker doesn't have time to think that far ahead. Instead, his focus is on finding ways to help get Charlotte get back on a winning track which he knows is easier said than done.
And matching up against players like Boston's two-time All-Star Rajon Rondo don't help. Rondo has outplayed a number of young and old playmakers through the years, and Walker was no exception.
Although Walker had more points (16) scored than Rondo, there was little doubt who the better player was Tuesday night. In addition to scoring 10 points, Rondo also dished out a game-high 13 assists. It was Rondo's fourth double-double this season.
Walker sees matchups against Rondo and other elite point guards, as an opportunity to grow.
"It comes with the territory," Walker said. "This is the level I wanted to be on. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I love playing against the best every night."
That's what he was used to at UConn, which he led to a national championship this past spring.
The competition is even tougher in the NBA.
And winning?
Yeah, that has been pretty challenging as well. But to Walker's credit, he remains optimistic that the Bobcats will eventually turn things around.
"We're a young team," he said. "Hopefully we'll get better in the future."