Lonnie Walker IV facts for kids
Walker in 2023
|
|
| No. 1 – Žalgiris Kaunas | |
|---|---|
| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 14, 1998 Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | Reading (Reading, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 204 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Miami (Florida) (2017–2018) |
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall |
| Selected by the San Antonio Spurs | |
| Pro career | 2018–present |
| League | LKL EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2022 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2018–2019 | → Austin Spurs |
| 2022–2023 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2023–2024 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 2024–present | Žalgiris Kaunas |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Lonnie Walker IV was born on December 14, 1998. He is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for Žalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania. This team is part of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague.
Before becoming a pro, Lonnie was a star in high school. He was named Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball. He also earned a special honor called McDonald's All-American. After high school, Walker played college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes.
After a great first year in college, he was picked in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft. The San Antonio Spurs chose him as the 18th player overall. He played four seasons with the Spurs. Later, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets.
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
Lonnie Walker IV was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. He went to Reading Senior High School in his hometown. He started playing varsity basketball as a freshman. In his first year, he scored about eight points per game.
As a junior, he averaged 17.1 points per game. In his senior year, Lonnie became a true basketball star. He was named a McDonald's All-American. He was also voted Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball. He scored a career-best 18.4 points per game that year. He even broke a school record for total points scored. He finished with 1,828 points. This was more than former NBA player Donyell Marshall's record.
On March 25, 2017, Lonnie led his high school team to their first state championship ever. They won 64–60 against the Pine-Richland Rams. Lonnie played a huge role in this victory. He scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and made four steals.
During his senior year, Lonnie decided to play college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes. He chose Miami over many other top schools. These included Villanova, Kentucky, and Arizona.
College Career Highlights
Lonnie Walker started his college basketball journey on November 10, 2017. In his first game, he scored 10 points. He also had five assists, helping his team win easily. A few weeks later, he set new personal bests. He scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.
His first time starting a college game was very impressive. He scored 26 points and had seven rebounds. This helped his team win 69–54. In another exciting game, he scored 25 points against Louisville. He even made an amazing shot to force the game into overtime.
Against Boston College, Lonnie made a game-winning shot. He hit a 3-pointer with only two seconds left! His team won 79-78. By the end of the season, he was averaging 11.5 points per game. He was also named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman team. This means he was one of the best first-year players in his league.
After just one season with Miami, Lonnie decided to enter the 2018 NBA draft.
Professional Journey
San Antonio Spurs (2018–2022)
On June 21, 2018, Lonnie Walker IV was drafted into the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs picked him as the 18th player overall. He officially signed with the Spurs on July 11, 2018.
Lonnie made his NBA debut on January 3, 2019. He scored three points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. On December 3, 2019, he had an amazing game. He scored a career-high 28 points against the Houston Rockets. He scored 19 of those points in the fourth quarter! This helped the Spurs win a thrilling double-overtime game.
Los Angeles Lakers (2022–2023)
On July 6, 2022, Lonnie signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He started the 2022–23 season strong. He played in 32 games, starting all of them. He was averaging almost 15 points per game. He was one of the team's top scorers.
He later had a knee injury and missed some games. When he returned, his playing time changed. However, he made a big impact in the 2023 playoffs. In a game against the Golden State Warriors, he scored 12 points. In Game 4 of that series, he scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter. This helped the Lakers win and take a lead in the series.
Brooklyn Nets (2023–2024)
On July 10, 2023, Lonnie Walker signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. After the season ended, he became a free agent.
Žalgiris Kaunas (2024–present)
On October 30, 2024, Lonnie Walker signed with Žalgiris Kaunas. This team plays in Lithuania's top basketball league and the EuroLeague.
Personal Life
Lonnie Walker IV's father, Lonnie Walker III, also played basketball. He moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, to play at Alvernia University. Lonnie III had to leave college to raise his son as a single parent. He worked many jobs to support his family.
Lonnie IV's father always encouraged him to read after school. Even now, reading is part of Lonnie's routine before games.
Lonnie has a dog named Zola. Zola appeared with him in an ad for PETA. The ad reminded people not to leave their dogs in hot cars. Lonnie once cut his hair very short. He said it felt like he was "shedding his skin" and making a big change in his life.
See also
In Spanish: Lonnie Walker para niños
