M. J. Walker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
M. J. Walker

Walker with Florida State in 2018
No. 1 – Greensboro Swarm
Small forward / shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1998-03-28) March 28, 1998 (age 27) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
High school	Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Georgia)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
College	Florida State (2017–2021)
NBA Draft	2021 / Undrafted
Pro career	2021–present
League	NBA G League
Career history
2021–2023	Westchester Knicks
2021–2022	Phoenix Suns
2023	Vancouver Bandits
2023	Brampton Honey Badgers
2023–2024	Saint-Quentin
2024	Greensboro Swarm
2024	Canterbury Rams
2024–present	Greensboro Swarm
Career highlights and awards
NZNBL champion (2024) Second-team All-ACC (2021) McDonald's All-American (2017) Nike Hoop Summit (2017)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States FIBA Americas U18 Championship Gold 2016 Chile Team

James Michael "M. J." Walker Jr. (born March 28, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Greensboro Swarm in the NBA G League. Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles. M. J. Walker is known for his skills as a small forward and shooting guard.

M. J. Walker's High School Journey

M. J. Walker at the 2017 McDonald's All-American Boys Game

M. J. Walker went to Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Georgia. He first played American football, but after the summer of 2016, he decided to focus only on basketball.

In his second year (sophomore) in 2014–15, Walker was a key player. He scored about 17.3 points per game. He also grabbed 4.5 rebounds, made 3.0 assists, and got 3.0 steals per game. He helped Jonesboro High School win the 2015 Georgia Class 4A state championship. His team had an amazing record of 32 wins and only 1 loss.

As a junior in 2015–16, Walker continued to shine. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He led his team to a 28–5 record and another regional title. In his final year (senior) in 2016–17, Walker averaged 27.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He helped Jonesboro achieve a 23–6 record.

Choosing a College Team

M. J. Walker was a highly sought-after player by many colleges. He was considered a five-star recruit. Top universities like Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, UCLA, and Virginia Tech all wanted him to play for them. In the end, Walker chose to play college basketball for Florida State.

College Basketball Career

At Florida State, M. J. Walker played for four years. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. His team had a great season, winning 29 games and losing only 8. They even made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" round of the NCAA Tournament.

In his junior year, Walker was recognized for his strong play. He received an "All-ACC Honorable Mention" award. This means he was one of the best players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. As a senior, he had his best college season. He averaged 12.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. For his excellent performance, he was named to the "Second Team All-ACC."

After his senior year, M. J. Walker decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft. He chose to become a professional player. He gave up the chance to play an extra year in college. This extra year was offered to college athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Playing Professional Basketball

M. J. Walker was not chosen in the 2021 NBA draft. However, he still got a chance to play professionally.

Starting with the Westchester Knicks

In August 2021, Walker signed with the New York Knicks. He was later waived, but then joined the Westchester Knicks in October 2021. The Westchester Knicks are a team in the NBA G League. This league is like a development league for the NBA. With the Westchester Knicks, Walker averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

A Short Time with the Phoenix Suns

In December 2021, Walker signed a special 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. This was a "COVID-19 hardship exemption" contract. It allowed teams to sign extra players when many of their regular players were out due to illness. He played in two games for the Suns during that season.

Back to Westchester and Other Teams

After his time with the Suns, Walker returned to the Westchester Knicks in January 2022. He played for them until 2023.

In 2023, M. J. Walker played for several different teams. He signed with the Vancouver Bandits in Canada in June. He averaged 11.2 points in 9 games before being released. Later that July, he joined the Brampton Honey Badgers, another Canadian team. In August 2023, he moved to France to play for Saint-Quentin in the LNB Pro A league.

Recent Teams

In January 2024, Walker joined the Greensboro Swarm in the NBA G League. Then, in March 2024, he signed with the Canterbury Rams in New Zealand. He helped the Rams win the 2024 New Zealand NBL championship.

In October 2024, Walker rejoined the Greensboro Swarm. He was briefly waived but then re-signed with the team a few days later.

Playing for Team USA

M. J. Walker has also represented his country in basketball. He played for the United States national under-18 team. This was at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in Chile. In four games, he averaged 2 points and 1.8 rebounds. His team won the gold medal at this championship!

Career Statistics

NBA

College

M. J. Walker's Family Life

M. J. Walker comes from a family of basketball players. His parents are James and Jackie Walker. He also has an older sister named Amoni.

His father, James, played college basketball at Norfolk State University. His mother, Jackie, played women's college basketball for Hampton University. His sister, Amoni, also plays basketball for Miles College. It seems basketball talent runs in the family!

Images for kids

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  M. J. Walker playing for Florida State in 2018

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  M. J. Walker at the 2017 McDonald's All-American Boys Game

See also

In Spanish: M. J. Walker para niños