Lonnie Walker IV's basketball journey has been a rollercoaster, and it seems the ride might not be over yet. After spending last season lighting up the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Walker is catching the eye of NBA teams once again. His impressive average of 15.2 points per game overseas has sparked interest back home, with teams contemplating bringing him back to the NBA fold.
Walker’s contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv includes an NBA out clause, allowing him to make a stateside return if he signs with an NBA team before July 15. This clause could be the key to unlocking another chapter in his NBA career.
Drafted 18th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2018, Walker showed glimpses of his potential early on, like when he dropped a career-high 28 points against the Houston Rockets in December 2019. However, consistency was elusive, and he struggled to cement a starting role with the Spurs, eventually leaving in free agency in 2022.
Walker’s next stop was with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he started 32 games in the 2022-23 season, averaging 11.7 points per game. Unfortunately, knee tendinitis threw a wrench in his progress, sidelining him for 14 games. Before his injury, Walker was putting up 14.7 points in nearly 30 minutes per game, but the Lakers’ roster changes, including the arrivals of Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura, limited his opportunities upon his return.
In 2023, Walker signed a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets, but feeling undervalued, he moved on after just one season. A brief stint with the Boston Celtics followed, but he was waived after two months.
With NBA interest dwindling, Walker took his talents overseas, signing with Žalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania. He made a significant impact, helping the team clinch the King Mindaugas Cup.
Yet, just days later, he returned to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 20 appearances with the Sixers, Walker averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
Despite these numbers, the 76ers chose not to exercise his option, making him a free agent once more.
Walker then found a new home with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he continued to showcase his scoring prowess. Now, with the NBA out clause in his contract, teams have a limited window to bring him back stateside. Whether Walker will make a return to the NBA remains to be seen, but his journey is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of opportunity.
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