If you asked Lonnie Walker IV a few months back where he saw himself by Thanksgiving, playing abroad in Europe would be the last thing to come to his mind.
The Miami (FL) product cut out a pretty little corner for himself in the league for six years, providing scoring and playmaking as part of the second unit. While his most recent stop with the Brooklyn Nets didn’t net him an assured contract, he was supposed to join the Boston Celtics before being cut days before the season began.
Left with few options for his pro career, the 25-year-old guard had to look to Europe to play his basketball before attempting to rejoin the association.
Playing abroad comes with its own set of challenges, and Walker openly talked about his experience in a recent interview.
Lonnie Walker IV discusses the mentality shift he had to go through after leaving the NBA for Europe
Walker is currently playing for Zalgiris Kaunas, where he reveals that playing overseason had him look at things from a different perspective.
He talked about how the experience has been, per Basketnews.com:
“Honestly, it’s better than what I expected,” Walker told Zalgiris TV in his first interview. “The facility is beautiful, and everybody here has been truly nice to me. Just allowing the transition to be as easy as possible.”
He appreciated for how transparent the team has been during the negotiation process. He also revealed what his plans for the coming season is:
“Weighing out my cards, seeing what’s next, what’s new, and what’s best for me,” he reflected on choosing his next stop. “I know my capabilities. I know what type of player I am, how good of a player I am, and what I can be. It’s just about fitting in with the right team at the right means or getting the opportunity where opportunity meets preparation, so Zalgiris, honestly, was one of the perfect places to play with, as far as the team, the defensive schemes, and everything of that aspect. I think the stars aligned with this one.”
Lonnie Walker IV can contribute to any team looking for solid point guard play off the bench. He averaged 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 322 games for the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Brooklyn Nets.
Given the amount of talent available in his position, it might be difficult for Walker to find his way back to the NBA. However, a strong season with Kaunas might have some teams calling him up by the summer of 2025.
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