Lonnie Walker IV Bio
Lonnie Walker IV is an American professional basketball player who most recently signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 93 kilograms, he plays as a guard and has built a professional profile across the NBA, the Lithuanian Basketball League, and now European competition. After being selected 18th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 NBA Draft, Walker has suited up for the Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Žalgiris Kaunas. He signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv in July 2025, marking his return to elite-level play abroad.
Early Life and Background
Lonnie Walker IV was born on December 14, 1998, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Lonnie Walker III, a New Jersey native who moved to Reading to play basketball at Alvernia University. Walker III dropped out of college after his son was born and raised him as a single parent while working multiple jobs. To support the family, Walker III worked long hours, and the experience shaped his son’s discipline and competitive character.
Walker attended Reading Senior High School in Reading, where he made his varsity basketball debut as a freshman. He played 27 games that first year, averaging eight points per game, and followed it up with a 16.9-point average as a sophomore in a shortened season due to injury. As a junior, he posted 17.1 points per game across 29 contests, and during his senior year he averaged a career-best 18.4 points per game. Walker was named a McDonald’s All-American and was voted Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball in 2017, cementing his status as one of the top high school players in the country.
He finished his high school career with 1,828 total points, surpassing Reading High graduate and former NBA player Donyell Marshall’s school scoring record. On March 25, 2017, Walker led Reading Senior High School to its first state championship in the program’s 117-year history, a 64–60 win over the Pine-Richland Rams in which he tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists. He signed with the Miami Hurricanes, choosing the program over scholarship offers from Villanova, Kentucky, Syracuse, and Arizona.
Path to Basketball
Walker’s path to professional basketball was built on consistent progression at Reading Senior High School. His freshman varsity debut, his record-setting senior year, and the program’s first state title gave him a foundation of winning experience. The McDonald’s All-American selection in 2017 placed him among the elite high school prospects in his class.
His commitment to the Miami Hurricanes further sharpened his game against Atlantic Coast Conference competition. The combination of family support, dedicated coaching in high school, and the chance to play top-tier college basketball set the stage for his transition to the NBA.
Lonnie Walker IV Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Walker made his collegiate debut with the Miami Hurricanes on November 10, 2017, recording 10 points and a season-high five assists off the bench in a 77–45 win over Gardner-Webb University. He set new highs of 12 points and five rebounds on December 2 in an 80–52 win against Princeton University. Three days later, he recorded season-highs of 26 points and seven rebounds during his first collegiate start, a 69–54 win over Boston University.
Against Louisville, he scored a game-high 25 points, including an acrobatic layup in traffic to force overtime, and against Boston College he hit a game-winning three-pointer with two seconds remaining in a 79–78 victory. He finished his only season at Miami averaging 11.5 points per game and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. After the season, Walker declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.
San Antonio Spurs Breakthrough (2018–2022)
On June 21, 2018, Walker was selected with the 18th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 NBA Draft. He joined the team’s Summer League roster and signed his rookie contract on July 11, 2018. A right medial meniscus tear was revealed on October 6, 2018, and the Spurs assigned him to the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League on November 25, 2018, for additional development time.
Walker made his NBA debut on January 3, 2019, in a 125–107 win against the Toronto Raptors, scoring three points and grabbing one rebound in five minutes of play. On December 3, 2019, he scored a career-high 28 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, in a 135–133 double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets, finishing with four rebounds, three steals, and a block. He played four seasons with the Spurs before entering free agency.
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2022–2023)
On July 6, 2022, Walker signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year, $6.5 million contract. He began the 2022–23 season in strong form, starting 32 games and averaging 14.7 points in 29.8 minutes per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range. He briefly emerged as the Lakers’ top scorer behind LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.
Knee tendinitis sidelined him beginning in late December, and he missed 14 games before returning. His minutes were further limited as Austin Reaves developed and the Lakers acquired D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura before the trade deadline. In the 2023 playoffs, Walker returned to the rotation and scored 12 points in 25 minutes in a 127–97 win over Golden State that gave the Lakers a 2–1 series lead in the conference semifinals. In Game 4, he scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter to help Los Angeles overcome a seven-point deficit and win 104–101.
Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics (2023–2024)
On July 10, 2023, Walker signed a one-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. After the season finale on June 29, 2024, he publicly stated that he was unsatisfied with the disrespect he received from the Brooklyn Nets’ coaching staff and entered free agency. On August 28, 2024, he signed a reported one-year contract with the Boston Celtics but was waived on October 19, 2024.
Žalgiris Kaunas and Philadelphia 76ers (2024–2025)
On October 30, 2024, Walker signed with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League and the EuroLeague. He helped Žalgiris win the King Mindaugas Cup, the top domestic cup competition, on February 16, 2025. On February 19, 2025, he parted ways with the team in order to return to the NBA. On February 21, 2025, Walker signed with his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. After the 2024–25 NBA season, the 76ers declined to exercise their team option on Walker’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Era (2025–Present)
On July 24, 2025, Walker signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague. The contract is worth approximately $5 million gross and includes NBA exit clauses for 2025 and 2026. The move gives Walker a featured role in one of Europe’s most storied programs and a chance to compete in the EuroLeague.
Notable Events and Milestones
Walker’s signature NBA moment came on December 3, 2019, when he scored 28 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, in a double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets. He also led Reading Senior High School to its first state title in 117 years, surpassing Donyell Marshall’s school scoring record with 1,828 career points. In 2025, he added a King Mindaugas Cup title with Žalgiris Kaunas to his résumé.
Lonnie Walker IV Career Wins
Walker’s career wins span high school, college, and professional basketball. He captured a Pennsylvania state championship with Reading Senior High School in 2017, was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2018, and added a King Mindaugas Cup title with Žalgiris Kaunas in February 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Walker earned Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball and McDonald’s All-American honors in 2017, recognizing him as one of the top high school players in the United States. His NBA playoff performances with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023, including a 15-point fourth quarter in Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors, remain among his most memorable professional moments.
Lonnie Walker IV Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Walker is the son of Lonnie Walker III, who moved from New Jersey to Reading, Pennsylvania, to play basketball at Alvernia University. Walker III dropped out of college when his son was born in 1998 and raised him as a single parent while working multiple jobs. The elder Walker encouraged his son to read after school, and reading has remained part of Walker’s pregame routine.
Personal Life
In June 2020, Walker revealed that he had been the victim of sexual abuse by family members as an adolescent and had grown out his long hairstyle as a coping mechanism. He described cutting his hair as having “shed my skin mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.” Walker has a dog named Zola, named after the evil robot, who appeared with him in a PETA ad campaign reminding people not to leave their dogs in hot, parked cars.
2025 Season Performance
Walker’s 2025 calendar year included stints with two teams in two different leagues. After helping Žalgiris Kaunas win the King Mindaugas Cup in February 2025, he returned to the NBA and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on February 21, 2025. He finished the NBA season with the 76ers, who declined to exercise their team option and made him an unrestricted free agent.
On July 24, 2025, Walker signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague, signaling a new chapter in his professional career. The deal, worth approximately $5 million gross, includes NBA exit clauses for 2025 and 2026, leaving the door open for a return to the NBA.
His early contributions with Maccabi Tel Aviv are expected to be tracked closely by NBA scouts, while his European experience adds another layer to a career that already includes five NBA franchises and a Lithuanian cup title.