Kemba Walker participates in 1st full practice, would 'play tomorrow' if up to him

The Charlotte Hornets are set to receive a big boost. 

Injured point guard Kemba Walker participated in his first full practice Saturday since undergoing knee surgery in January and is eyeing a return to game action next week. Although the practice wasn't long or overly physical, it was a necessary step in Walker's recovery.

Walker could play as early as Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings, but Friday versus the Chicago Bulls looks to be the more likely scenario, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. 

The team will monitor how Walker feels in the coming days, and it will be head athletic trainer Steve Stricker and head coach Steve Clifford whom have the final say as to when the 24-year-old is ready. 

"If it were up to me I'd play tomorrow. It's really up to him," Walker said of Clifford.

Walker will practice again Sunday and, with no setbacks, should be good to return close to the estimated six-week recovery timeline he was given at the time of the operation. He admits to feeling something in the surgically-repaired knee, but nothing that concerns him. 

"I get sore but that's natural," he said. "Nothing I can't manage, nothing that is killing me. I'm fine."

The fourth-year guard was enjoying the most productive season of his career before going down, averaging a team-leading 18.8 points, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 42 games for the playoff-hopeful Hornets. 

Charlotte enters its Sunday contest against the Detroit Pistons mere percentage points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.