BOSTON — Lonnie Walker IV’s longtime pal and former highschool teammate, Justin Kellman, sees a distinct particular person carrying No. 12 at Celtics coaching camp.
“That is probably the most I’ve seen him locked in,” Kellman stated. “He’s altering all the things about him. His weight loss plan is altering. The best way he thinks is altering. His each 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 hearth 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 bit of bit extra and like I stated, he’s going loopy every day.”
Brad Stevens instructed Walker IV after 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 take up roughly a $10 million luxurious tax hit in the event that they signal Walker IV for the complete season. Walker IV instructed CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on Friday that he didn’t obtain assured gives in free company, however understood and is keen to do no matter is critical.
Nonetheless, Kellman and others round Walker IV count on him to make the crew ought to he preserve the habits that impressed them to start camp. He’s usually 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 making an attempt to determine it out.
“I’ve been on the lookout for a house since I left San Antonio,” he stated. “I’ve been doing a complete bunch of one-year offers. One yr with LA, one yr with the Nets. Now, I’m on the E10. So, simply discovering a corporation that actually desires me to be part of the crew and constantly develop and be part of the group and the fan base as properly … to lastly discover a crew that I’m with for a long-term deal, no matter it may be, and simply be embraced. I believe since I’ve been within the league, I’ve all the time handled a number of inconsistent minutes, based mostly off of in all probability accidents or no matter it may need been, that’s out of my management, and for as soon as, I perhaps simply need some consistency in that space of simply understanding my position and my place throughout the crew.”
The Celtics’ championship file 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 scenario. The chance to play off the strain Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum take up from defenses additionally made sense.
Walker IV as soon as entered the NBA Draft with lottery choice potential (Doc Rivers telling his faculty coach Jim Larrañaga that the Clippers appreciated him in that vary) then poor medical evaluations led the Nuggets, Hornets and LA to move 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 faculty follow 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 didn’t exceed 61 by way of six seasons. Nonetheless, his inventory falling to Exhibit 10 standing shocked Larrañaga.
“He’s too good a participant to be having to check out after six seasons within the NBA,” he stated. “He’s an excellent NBA participant and teammate. I believe it’s unlucky that he didn’t signal with a with a crew and get an extension to a great contract as a result of he’s a really worthwhile man. He’s an awesome teammate. He shoots the ball very properly. He’s averaged like 10 factors a recreation 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 possibility to attempt to make the crew, as a result of he’s actually very succesful … along with his measurement and at his place and his capturing capability. 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 capturing periods following follow this week. He additionally talked about chopping, bench scoring and capturing, rebounding and even motion in transition, with a deal with 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 way in which, he discovered 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 crew’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 crew might signal him at any time, however others have succeeded at tailoring their recreation to the Celtics’ system then occurring to win in Boston.
“I really feel like I’ve been taking part in this recreation since I got here out the womb,” Walker IV stated. “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 combat again whenever you really feel like you don’t have any extra combat left?”
