Lonnie Walker IV was one of the last Celtics players still getting shots up after the first day of training camp on Wednesday – and that was no coincidence.
“I’ve got to work my tail off,” he said afterward. “Every single day, I need to put it all out on the court. First one in the gym, hopefully, the last one out.”
The 25-year-old is one of the more intriguing storylines of training camp. A former first-round pick (18th overall) by the San Antonio Spurs in 2018, Walker has proven himself a capable scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game over the past four seasons while shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.2% from three. Last season in Brooklyn, he averaged 9.7 points in just 17.4 minutes per game across 58 appearances off the bench. Yet, he didn’t sign a guaranteed contract over the offseason.
“I wish I had a clear-cut answer for why I didn’t get a guaranteed deal,” Walker said. “But it’s just the way the cards fall. As a man, good, bad or ugly, you got to accept what fate is given and continue to push. I’m not going to stop or put my head down because I’m not given what I expected. I always say it’s always on God’s time, not mine. And so until then, continue to pound the rock every day.”
The absence of a guaranteed deal drove Walker to chase opportunities, leading him to land an Exhibit 10 contract with the defending champion Boston Celtics. Now, he has the chance to fight for a roster spot during camp.
“Brad Stevens, he’s given me the opportunity with the E-10 to kind of prove myself and show my capabilities offensively, defensively, off the court, being a great teammate,” Walker said. “So I’m just really excited and grateful to be here, and I’m just going to work to the best of my capability.”
Standing at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Walker is a tremendous athlete and has shown he can be a reliable reserve in the league. Known for his scoring—averaging 17.4 points per 36 minutes in his career—he understands that he’ll need to prove he can make an impact in other ways to stick with the Celtics.
“I think everyone knows that I can score, my ability to do that. I’m athletic. I have the strength and the speed to play with the best of them,” the Pennsylvania native said. “I think this year I really want to lock in on that defensive side and show everyone I can play defense if I can play my true position and go from there.”
Entering his seventh season, Walker has appeared in 322 games over the past six seasons, including 88 starts and two postseason trips. Given his experience and potential value, it’s perplexing that he isn’t on a guaranteed deal elsewhere. But that’s just the nature of today’s NBA free agency.
“He’s a guy that was very excited to be here,” Stevens said. “Obviously, he’s got a lot of talent, and he’s done a lot of good things in the NBA, and we’ll see how it fits and plays itself out, just like we will with all the other 21 players on the roster.”
With Walker on an Exhibit 10 deal, the Celtics can offer him a final roster spot on a minimum contract if things click. If not, Walker could earn a $77,500 bonus for joining the Celtics’ G-League affiliate in Maine—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.”
One thing is clear: Walker is embracing this opportunity with unwavering professionalism. He’s fully committed to doing whatever it takes to stick with the organization and contribute to the team’s success.
“He’s patient. He understands the position he’s in, and he understands there will be plenty of opportunities for him to earn his position,” Joe Mazzulla said. “He’s asked a lot of questions because he wants to understand. He’s willing to do whatever is necessary to be the best for what we need him to be. So, as long as he has that, it’s not about these first three days. Training camp is the whole preseason. So there is plenty of opportunity there. The most important thing is, how does he fit into the dynamics of what we’re trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor, and can he execute the details?”
Walker will have plenty of chances to prove himself, and he knows it will have to be earned.
“I’ve got to earn it,” Walker said. “Obviously, there are a lot of different aspects that might carry onto it, but being on an E-10, it’s not guaranteed. I’m not coming here with the mindset of, ‘OK, I’m on an E-10, and afterward, I’m going to get the guaranteed contract.’”
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