Veteran shooting guard Lonnie Walker will not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with Zalgiris Kaunas, according to his agent, George S. Langberg. The clause allowed Walker to return to the NBA by February 18, but Langberg confirmed to Marc Stein of The Stein Line that Walker plans to remain with the Lithuanian club for the remainder of the season.
He intends to return to the NBA for the 2025-26 campaign.
Walker, who has accumulated 322 career NBA appearances, has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets since entering the league in 2018. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 58 appearances with the Nets. He shot 42.3% from the field, 38.4% from three-point range, and 76.3% from the free-throw line.
Walker’s versatility and scoring ability have made him a valuable role player throughout his NBA career, though he was waived by the Boston Celtics in October following a training camp stint.
Walker’s performance in the EuroLeague with Zalgiris has been solid, though his shooting percentages have been somewhat inconsistent.
In 19 EuroLeague games this season, he has averaged 13.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, playing 22.3 minutes per contest. However, his shooting splits stand at 38.7% from the field and 33.1% from three-point range, numbers that suggest he has room for improvement in his efficiency.
Despite the fluctuating shooting percentages, Walker’s all-around contributions have helped Zalgiris remain competitive in the EuroLeague. Either way, without a doubt, he will garner interest from the NBA this offseason. It’s just that it will no longer be coming until the summer.
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