BOSTON — Lonnie Walker IV’s longtime pal and former highschool teammate, Justin Kellman, sees a unique individual carrying No. 12 at Celtics coaching camp.
“That is probably the most I’ve seen him locked in,” Kellman mentioned. “He’s altering the whole lot about him. His weight loss plan 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 most likely hitting the stage the place he’s at now, hitting this (Exhibit) 10 — I feel this undoubtedly lit a hearth beneath him that I don’t wanna say he wanted, nevertheless it was (good) timing. Let’s say that. I feel this case opened his eyes a bit bit extra and like I mentioned, 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 attributable to wage cap causes, he may 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 total season. Walker IV instructed CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on Friday that he didn’t obtain assured presents in free company, however understood and is keen to do no matter is important.
Nonetheless, Kellman and others round Walker IV count on 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 on the lookout 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 desires me to be part of the group and repeatedly develop and be part of the group and the fan base as effectively … to lastly discover a group that I’m with for a long-term deal, no matter it is perhaps, and simply be embraced. I feel since I’ve been within the league, I’ve at all times handled a whole lot of inconsistent minutes, based mostly off of most likely accidents or no matter it may 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 inside the group.”
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 state of affairs. The chance to play off the strain 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 favored 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 cope with numerous 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 mentioned. “He’s an excellent NBA participant and teammate. I feel 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 worthwhile man. He’s an ideal teammate. He shoots the ball very effectively. He’s averaged like 10 factors a sport for his profession, so I feel it was unlucky that somebody didn’t signal him to a full contract, however I actually recognize that the Celtics have no less than given him an Exhibit 10 and given him a chance to attempt to make the group, as a result of he’s actually very succesful … together with his dimension and at his place and his capturing capacity. I feel 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 classes following apply 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 burdened that he’s solely 25, turning 26 in December.
He’s had a tough journey, coping with abuse at a younger age. Basketball grew to become his escape rising up in Studying, Pennsylvania. Alongside the way in which, 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 could be dangerous, since any group may 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, repeatedly rising and by no means losing interest inside the routines. And the way do you repeatedly combat again if you really feel like you don’t have any extra combat left?”
