Lonnie Walker is on a quest to convey his basketball journey full circle

Lonnie Walker is on a quest to convey his basketball journey full circle initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston

BOSTON — Lonnie Walker IV at all times appears to be smiling. However his grin solely grows wider when offered with a picture he posted to social media after signing with the Boston Celtics in August.

It’s a snapshot of a younger Walker, decked out in a Celtics winter cap, standing within the balcony at TD Backyard. He’s, in fact, smiling.

“That is considered one of my first NBA video games with my godfather, Geo,” Walker informed NBC Sports activities Boston. “My godparents are Italian so they’re hardcore Boston Celtics followers, to say the least. So I sort of grew up watching the Celtics and that is really considered one of my first [NBA] video games I bought to observe.”

Walker, a local of Studying, Pa., made the 400-mile trek as much as Boston to go to TD Backyard throughout the latest Huge Three period.

“They knew how a lot I liked basketball,” mentioned Walker. “Watching Paul Pierce and all of them play, this was actually my first time watching the massive leagues and I used to be like, ‘Wow. I’ve a lot to study, a lot to develop.’”

Trying on the No. 12 Celtics jersey on his chest, Walker’s smile widens once more.

“It is a very full circle second for me,” he mentioned.

Eyebrows throughout the league went skyward in late August when Walker dedicated to affix the defending champion Celtics on an Exhibit 10 deal, which is basically a training-camp invite for a participant hoping to make a group’s roster.

Celtics brass was clear that, with 14 gamers already signed and the group set to navigate harsh luxurious tax penalties, there was no assure they’d fill their fifteenth spot. Walker got here to Boston realizing a extra possible state of affairs could be getting waived on the finish of the preseason and touchdown with the group’s G-League affiliate in Maine.

There are dozens of gamers in camps this month on Exhibit 10 offers. Few have 322 video games of NBA expertise and have confirmed themselves to be dependable bench-scoring choices at this stage.

Walker, the 18th decide of the San Antonio Spurs within the 2018 NBA Draft, might have sat round ready for a group to supply him a assured spot, or just sulked when nothing emerged. As an alternative, he embraced the problem of as soon as once more proving he belongs on an NBA roster.

“The street’s a bit bit completely different for me, personally,” mentioned Walker. “I’m on the E10 proper now, nonetheless attempting to grind and get all of it collectively and get the assure, however there’s nothing higher than being with a successful group, nothing higher than having a tradition that has a successful mindset, and that is one thing that builds you, individually and total for the group.”

And why is he keen to wager on himself?

“Psychological fortitude,” mentioned Walker. “That’s one thing that I actually instill in myself. Every day I imagine in myself, the quantity of labor that I put in, the period of time and sacrifice that I put into this recreation. Ultimately, the preparation has to satisfy the chance. So I am very affected person, understanding what I’ve bought to do. And at any time when my time known as, I do know that I am mentally and bodily ready.”

Walker averaged a career-best 12.1 factors per recreation in 70 appearances for the Spurs through the 2021-22 season. He joined LeBron James’ Lakers the next season and made 32 begins in 56 appearances. Final 12 months, Walker averaged 9.7 factors over 17.4 minutes per recreation in a bench function with the Brooklyn Nets.

In a league with 450 roster spots, it seems like there needs to be room someplace for Walker. However he’s content material with the chance to indicate he may also help Boston. In spite of everything, it might convey his basketball journey full circle.

However that younger Walker — and possibly even the now-25-year-old Walker — by no means might have actually envisioned really sporting a Celtics jersey.

“By no means in 1,000,000 years, to say the least,” mentioned Walker. “It hasn’t totally hit me but, however it for certain is a gorgeous factor to see, so far as like full circle, you already know? Simply being on the proper place on the proper time and, by the grace of God, the whole lot will go the best approach.

“It is a championship group coming off a championship 12 months. It means so much [to put on this jersey], and also you sort of come into right here with the championship mindset, not skipping no steps, being to one of the best of your functionality, you owe it to your teammates every day to be 100% and be ready, mentally and bodily.”

The choice to affix Boston was made simpler by the presence of acquainted faces, together with Derrick White, after the 2 got here up collectively in San Antonio. Walker spent a part of this previous offseason understanding with Celtics guard Jrue Vacation and impressed the veteran together with his work ethic.

“We simply ended up understanding collectively in the summertime, sort of put in that grind, working. If it is within the weight room or if it is on the court docket,” mentioned Vacation. “Simply realizing the work ethic. He has the flexibility to do plenty of issues. He is very athletic and may rating. I feel being on a group like this, we will make the most of his talent. I imply, who would not need to play right here? …

“Very constructive, very constructive individual. You see him. He is at all times smiling. A really, very grateful dude. So actually, actually glad to have him right here.”

Earlier than the beginning of coaching camp, it wasn’t uncommon to seek out Walker within the health club at 6 a.m. (“Early fowl will get the worm,” he shrugs). He suggests he will get his work ethic from his father, Lonnie Walker III, who pushed him laborious, together with to prioritize lecturers as a toddler. It’s not unusual to see Walker among the many closing gamers on the court docket after apply, usually navigating lengthy post-practice taking pictures drills.

Off the court docket, Walker loves horror movies. That is his time of 12 months. He’s subscribed to Shudder, a thriller-themed streaming collection. At one level throughout our chat, he enthusiastically notes how we’re near Halloween-loving Salem. However, like many non-New Englanders, he endearingly pronounces it, “Sah-lum.” Simply wait till he has to attempt to say Gloucester. Nonetheless, getting as much as Salem is on his October to-do record.

However first he wants to indicate Boston brass that he may also help this group.

Walker could must tweak his play type a bit if he’s ever going to land on the father or mother roster. His scoring potential is apparent, however his utilization fee final season was a strong 23.0 p.c (rating within the 89th percentile amongst all wings, per Cleansing the Glass information) and he benefited from usually having the ball in his fingers in Brooklyn.

With Boston, he’d have to embrace being extra of a catch-and-shoot man. Walker shot 38.4 p.c on all 3-point makes an attempt final season and that quantity spiked to a strong 45 p.c on all nook 3-pointers. His efficient area objective proportion final season was 13.2 p.c increased on catch-and-shoot (59.9) than pull ups (46.7).

The 6-foot-4 Walker has good measurement and a 6-foot-10 wingspan that ought to permit him to thrive as a fringe defender. There’s one other stage he can faucet into on that facet of the ball.

Walker didn’t play a lot in Boston’s two preseason video games in Abu Dhabi. He was among the many group’s closing reserves to hit the ground, which underscores his uphill roster climb. Walker missed all six of his shot makes an attempt in 22 minutes of play. He hesitated at occasions and dribbled into robust photographs. He must make faster selections and shoot with confidence to win over the teaching workers right here.

However he likes coach Joe Mazzulla’s blunt type. On considered one of his first mornings on the Auerbach Heart, Walker tried to have interaction his new coach by asking if he had watched the Canelo vs. Berlanga boxing match in mid-September.

“He was like, ‘I don’t watch pillow fights,’” Walker mentioned with amusing.

“Joe is among the most, like, a fast left flip with regards to conversations. He loves UFC however he hates boxing … That was about 8 within the morning, simply to begin it up, so that’s the first ‘Most Joe’ factor I’ve skilled to date since I have been right here.”

Spend any little bit of time with Walker and you may’t assist however really feel the positivity he radiates. His path hasn’t at all times been simple — in 2020, he revealed the sexual abuse he endured as a toddler — however no little bit of adversity appears to take that smile away.

Walker hopes the subsequent step in his basketball journey is in Boston. He’s able to embrace the detours if it’s not. All with hopes that it will definitely brings this basketball journey full circle.