Spurs guard and Reading High grad Lonnie Walker is all business on trip back home to Philly
The former Reading High star's first season in the NBA has mostly been spent developing in the G League, but he says he's bought in to the Spurs' process.
Lonnie Walker was close to home when the San Antonio Spurs arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday. But this was a business trip for the Reading native, so his friends, family, and fans would have to wait.
“Sadly I wasn’t able to go home," he said Wednesday before the Spurs' 122-120 loss to the 76ers. "I have to handle my stuff here, I’m still not solidified. I have to make sure I handle this trip professionally. I’m just here to be a great teammate. If I’m able to play, then I’m able to play. They’ll see me in the offseason.”
Walker did not play Wednesday night, but he’s not worried about getting minutes right now. Patience is a virtue that he is well practiced in these days.
Since being drafted 18th overall by the Spurs in June, the 6-foot-5 guard has spent most of his time with the team’s G League affiliate, appearing in just one NBA game. While starting out a rookie year in the developmental league might be a letdown for many, Walker has evidence that San Antonio has used the Austin Spurs to produce quality players who are a major part of the NBA rotation.
Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, and Bryn Forbes all spent considerable time in the G League before contributing heavy minutes for the Spurs. Murray was a large part of the Spurs rotation before tearing his right ACL in the preseason, and White and Forbes have been thrust into starting roles for the Spurs, who went into Thursday with the sixth-best record in the Western Conference.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said that the plan for Walker is the same as for any other young player.
“Develop him and give him time to understand the game, see what his strengths are, promote those, and work on whatever weaknesses he might have,” Popovich said before noting the other Spurs players who went through the same process.
Though he hasn’t broken into the NBA rotation, Walker has been turning heads with his play in the G League. In 18 games he is averaging 16.1 points. Most recently he has strung together four straight games scoring 20-or-more points while shooting 62.5 percent from three-point range and 54.5 percent overall.
“I just take it day by day,” Walker said. “I’m going to be good regardless of the situation. I know what the Spurs' system is, and once you buy into it you can’t be frustrated and you have to know what their vision is and what they see you.”
Walker is a long way from his high school days,, when he led Reading High to a Class 6A PIAA championship in 2017, and he earned All-ACC honors with the Miami Hurricanes last year in college. While those moments are special, he has an even greater goal.
Being able to make the trip to Philadelphia and see his family, friends, and former coaches for a short time at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night was as much time as he was willing to spare. This was a business trip, and a stepping-stone to realizing his goal of being a great NBA player.
“You just have to trust in Pop’s process and know that his methods are what is best for you,” Walker said. “He’s one of the greatest coaches ever and he knows what he’s doing. I’m all in.”