Coming off a hugely successful three seasons at Providence, Jimmy Walker was selected as the first overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1967 NBA Draft. After five solid seasons in Detroit in which he made the All-Star team twice, Walker ended up on the Houston Rockets before the 1972-73 season.
In his first season with the Rockets, the 6-3 guard tallied averages of 18 points and 5.5 assists per game through 81 games played. Despite having a solid season, Walker was traded to the Kansas City-Omaha Kings three games into the following season.