About two hours before Sunday’s preseason game against the Toronto Raptors, Lonnie Walker IV was getting shots up in a mostly empty TD Garden.
It was just him, Ron Harper Jr., a few player development coaches, and some scattered staff and media.
“I heard someone say, ‘We don’t believe in Lonnie,’” a coach joked.
“We don’t believe in L!”
Walker smiled at the lighthearted banter and continued to sink eight straight corner threes. This brief exchange perfectly captured his preseason mindset—focusing on what he can control and maintaining a positive attitude.
A former first-round pick (18th overall) by the San Antonio Spurs in 2018, the 25-year-old never expected to find himself in this position—on an Exhibit 10 deal, battling to prove himself and earn a roster spot. Yet, there’s been no hint of resentment or self-pity. Instead, he has embraced the challenge, asking questions and doing everything he can to make the most of the opportunity.
“I don’t really believe in pressure,” he said. “It all comes with the preparation that I’ve been doing. Being one of the first people in the gym and one of the last people out, coming in at night to get shots up. I’m doing everything in my power to make sure I’m mentally and physically prepared for whatever might be happening. If things do go how it’s supposed to do, then I’ll be happy. If it don’t go how it’s supposed to be, then at the end of the day, I can tip my hat off as a man, to understand that I did everything in my power to do what I could.”
Walker made the most of his preseason minutes. After playing just 11 minutes in the first two games and missing all six of his shot attempts in Abu Dhabi, he found his rhythm when the Celtics returned stateside. In two games at TD Garden, Walker scored 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting (54.5%) and went 5-of-13 from deep (38.5%), adding four rebounds, eight assists, and posting a +24—before registering a DNP-CD in the preseason finale.
His scoring was never in doubt. The six-year NBA veteran has averaged 17.4 points per 36 minutes over his career, including 11.2 points per game over the past four seasons while shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.2% from three.
However, in addition to his scoring, Walker looked comfortable on offense, moved the ball well, and played solid defense, earning high praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“I think he’s been really good,” Mazzulla said. “I think it’s an adjustment coming here because it’s just a different style of basketball, and I like his open-mindedness to learning. I like his patience – It’s funny when you get a guy like him who’s been in the league for seven years – I saw some things from him today that he might not think are important, or other people won’t, but they’re really, really important things, defensively and offensively. Whether it was his positioning or whether it was a small cut that he made or a read that he made, those things go a long way because they open up opportunities.”
Throughout the preseason, Walker reaffirmed what many believed when he signed with the Celtics in late August: in a league with only 450 roster spots, he deserves one. For the Celtics, it seems like a no-brainer. He’s a dynamic three-level scorer with ample NBA experience, and it would be tough to find someone as talented as Walker on a minimum deal to round out their rotation.
But it’s not that simple.
Signing Walker to a minimum deal would cost the Celtics roughly $10 million in salary and luxury taxes. Is it worth that price tag for a player who likely won’t see consistent playing time?
Time will tell if ownership is willing to dig deeper into a roster that will cost upwards of $500 million next season between salaries and luxury tax penalties.
If not, Walker will likely head to the G-League affiliate in Maine—unless he gets picked up by another team—a reality he’s open to embracing, knowing it could eventually help him get back onto an NBA roster.
“[Stevens] mentioned that there is a possibility that I might spend some time in the G-League in Maine, and honestly, I’m perfectly fine with that,” Walker said. “Because, as a man, you’ve got to take it on the chin. You’ve got to continue to work. You have to continue to be prepared and just keep being ready. I think I’m mentally prepared for almost any outcome that may pop up, and I know sooner or later that the worm will turn and that the light’s still at the end of the tunnel.”
Nonetheless, Walker proved what he can do. He made the most of his opportunity and showed he can still contribute at a high level. Whether his next step takes him to Maine or another NBA team, he's set himself up for a chance to revive his career and show he belongs in the league.
Related
