BOSTON — Lonnie Walker IV’s longtime good friend and former highschool teammate, Justin Kellman, sees a unique particular person sporting No. 12 at Celtics coaching camp.
“That is essentially the most I’ve seen him locked in,” Kellman mentioned. “He’s altering every thing about him. His eating regimen is altering. The way in which he thinks is altering. His day by day routine modified … I don’t wanna say all-time low — however in all probability hitting the stage the place he’s at now, hitting this (Exhibit) 10 — I believe this positively lit a fireplace beneath him that I don’t wanna say he wanted, but it surely was (good) timing. Let’s say that. I believe this example opened his eyes a little bit bit extra and like I mentioned, he’s going loopy each day.”
Brad Stevens informed Walker IV once they met one month in the past that he would want to earn his spot on the roster, and that because of wage cap causes, he might begin the season in Maine. The Celtics would soak up roughly a $10 million luxurious tax hit in the event that they signal Walker IV for the complete season. Walker IV informed CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on Friday that he didn’t obtain assured presents in free company, however understood and is prepared to do no matter is critical.
Nonetheless, Kellman and others round Walker IV anticipate him to make the group ought to he keep the habits that impressed them to start camp. He’s typically the final participant to depart the Auerbach Middle and confirmed as much as shoot once more at night time following daytime exercises within the weeks main as much as Media Day. Walker IV doesn’t know why his inventory fell following a powerful season with Brooklyn, however isn’t caught up in attempting to determine it out.
“I’ve been searching for a house since I left San Antonio,” he mentioned. “I’ve been doing an entire bunch of one-year offers. One yr with LA, one yr with the Nets. Now, I’m on the E10. So, simply discovering a company that actually needs me to be part of the group and constantly develop and be part of the group and the fan base as properly … to lastly discover a group that I’m with for a long-term deal, no matter it is likely to be, and simply be embraced. I believe since I’ve been within the league, I’ve at all times handled numerous inconsistent minutes, based mostly off of in all probability accidents or no matter it might need been, that’s out of my management, and for as soon as, I possibly simply need some consistency in that space of simply understanding my position and my place throughout the group.”
The Celtics’ championship report together with the presence of Derrick White, who Walker IV performed with for 4 seasons on the Spurs, and Jrue Vacation, who Walker IV befriended and labored out with in LA, appealed to him regardless of the unpredictable contract state of affairs. The chance to play off the stress Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum soak up from defenses additionally made sense.
Walker IV as soon as entered the NBA Draft with lottery choice potential (Doc Rivers telling his school coach Jim Larrañaga that the Clippers appreciated him in that vary) then poor medical evaluations led the Nuggets, Hornets and LA to cross on him earlier than San Antonio chosen him at No. 18. There, like White did the yr earlier than, Walker IV spent most of his rookie season with the G-League Austin Spurs.
Walker IV tore his meniscus throughout his first school apply and missed the beginning of that season, then underwent one other surgical procedure on that knee with the Spurs earlier than persevering with to take care of varied illnesses by way of stops with LA and Brooklyn. He appeared in 70 video games in 2021-22, however in any other case has did not exceed 61 by way of six seasons. Nonetheless, his inventory falling to Exhibit 10 standing stunned Larrañaga.
“He’s too good a participant to be having to check out after six seasons within the NBA,” he mentioned. “He’s an excellent NBA participant and teammate. I believe it’s unlucky that he didn’t signal with a with a group and get an extension to a superb contract as a result of he’s a really beneficial man. He’s an incredible teammate. He shoots the ball very properly. He’s averaged like 10 factors a sport for his profession, so I believe it was unlucky that somebody didn’t signal him to a full contract, however I actually recognize that the Celtics have at the least given him an Exhibit 10 and given him a chance to attempt to make the group, as a result of he’s definitely very succesful … together with his dimension and at his place and his taking pictures means. I believe he’s a top quality NBA guard.”
With the Celtics, Walker IV hopes to contribute in a complementary position. He’s a powerful nook three shooter and has hit them in droves at taking pictures classes following apply this week. He additionally talked about chopping, bench scoring and taking pictures, rebounding and even motion in transition, with a give attention to the little issues, as methods he can contribute. Walker IV additionally harassed that he’s solely 25, turning 26 in December.
He’s had a troublesome journey, coping with abuse at a younger age. Basketball turned his escape rising up in Studying, Pennsylvania. Alongside the best way, he realized basketball success is 90% psychological and has utilized sports activities psychologist to mould a stronger mindset. It’s one the Celtics will proceed to evaluate, together with the group’s wants and Walker IV’s match inside their tradition, by way of their journey to Abu Dhabi to face the Nuggets in two preseason video games and the remainder of coaching camp. Sending him to Maine can be dangerous, since any group might signal him at any time, however others have succeeded at tailoring their sport to the Celtics’ system then occurring to win in Boston.
“I really feel like I’ve been enjoying this sport since I got here out the womb,” Walker IV mentioned. “The toughest a part of the sport is your self, difficult your self, competing with your self, eager to be higher, constantly rising and by no means losing interest throughout the routines. And the way do you constantly battle again whenever you really feel like you haven’t any extra battle left?”
