Kemba Walker is ready to emerge as a leader on the court and in the locker room.

“Coach (Mike Dunlap) is really pushing me to be the leader and pushing me to use my voice,” said Walker, who turned 22 in May. “I’m trying to embrace that role.”

Walker praised Charlotte’s decision to select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick of the June draft.

“Very happy, very happy,” Walker said. “He was the next best player in the draft (behind Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis) and we had to take him. Not only that. He’s a great person. He’s a great kid. He’s going to be a great teammate. That’s what we need. We need high character guys.”