Lonnie Walker IV was a handful of minutes away from staying in Europe for the rest of the year.
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But thanks to a well-timed call, the former Reading High School star is heading back to the NBA, and with his home-state team to boot.
Walker signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, agreeing to a two-year deal with the organization after playing this season in Lithuania.
The 26-year-old 6-foot-4 shooting guard had a buy-out deadline in his contract with Lithuanian club Žalgiris Kaunas on Tuesday, and Walker confirmed initial reports that it seemed unlikely he was going to execute the clause.
“Got the call at 10 pm. 2 hours before my clause ended,” Walker tweeted on Wednesday. “Still processing it all but truly blessed,humbled, and excited for this next chapter AGTG!”
In 33 games in Lithuania this year, Walker averaged 13.3 points per game, and shot 40 percent from 3.
He started this offseason with the defending champion Boston Celtics before being waived, and has played for the Spurs, Lakers and Nets in his six-year NBA career after being selected in No. 18 in the 2018 draft out of University of Miami.
Before Coral Gables, Walker was a star at Reading High School, earning Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball and leading the program to its first state title.
He now joins a 20-34 Sixers team on a 2-year, $3 million deal, hoping to alleviate the loss of rookie Jared McCain from a season-ending injury.
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Publish date : 2025-02-19 08:54:00
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