Lonnie Walker IV Reflects on Journey from Celtics to 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Lonnie Walker IV, newly signed guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, reflected on his challenging path from summer training with the Boston Celtics to a recent stint in Lithuania with Zalgiris.

After being waived by the Celtics in October, Walker IV faced a pivotal decision. He could either rejoin the Maine Celtics in hopes of securing a call-up to the NBA or take a leap of faith and head overseas to compete in the EuroLeague.

“I was definitely highly thinking about going back to Maine, as far as with the Boston Celtics and, hopefully getting the opportunity back to come back and play with the main team,” Walker IV told reporters ahead of Thursday’s match against the Celtics.

Ultimately, he signed with Zalgiris, which offered an NBA buyout clause that provided the flexibility to return to the league by February 18. This arrangement, alongside encouraging discussions with Zalgiris’ management, swayed him into making the move. “There’s nothing better to show your talents in the second-best league in the world,” Walker IV said. “It was a moment of just betting on myself.”

During his time in Lithuania, Walker IV averaged 13.6 points per game while shooting 45.2% from two-point range and 33.1% from beyond the arc. As the buyout deadline approached, it became apparent that a return to the NBA might not be forthcoming, prompting him to focus solely on his responsibilities in Kaunas.

“I kind of just told my agent, ‘Don’t tell me anything if it’s not certain,’” he mentioned. “I really was just trying to stay present, play for Zalgiris.” In the closing hours of the deadline, however, his agent revealed that the Philadelphia 76ers were interested in bringing him on board.

“I didn’t really expect to come here at the last minute of my contract, but by the grace of God, I got back here,” Walker IV said. “Now I’m just trying to use the opportunity to the best of my capability.”

In his initial games with the 76ers, Walker IV struggled, hitting only three of his first 17 attempts. Philadelphia’s head coach Nick Nurse noted his potential, stating, “From what we’ve seen, we really like him… I think he’ll find his feet here a little bit and have some good games.”

Despite the rocky start, Walker IV maintained his confidence. “I got to understand that I’m human, too. I’m not going to immediately adapt to things,” he said. “It’s all about just finding consistency every single day, just trying to be better than what I was yesterday.”

His perseverance paid off in a game against the Celtics, where he achieved a season-high 17 points along with three assists in 28 minutes of play. This performance served as a confidence booster following his early challenges.

Reflecting on his brief time with the Celtics, Walker IV expressed gratitude for the training camp experience. “I just worked my tail off,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to improving both mentally and physically. He cited observing stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as pivotal to his enhanced work ethic.

“When you’re a part of a championship organization, it gives you a little more motivation,” Walker IV added. Seeing the drive of established players inspired him to elevate his own game. “It definitely instilled something as far as letting my work ethic be the hardest working man on the team,” he noted.

As Walker IV continues to settle with the 76ers, his past experiences, particularly with the Celtics, serve as a foundation for his evolving career in the NBA. His journey not only represents resilience but also the importance of self-belief in the face of challenges.