Former Spurs first-round pick poised for NBA return after dominant EuroLeague run

Former Spurs first-round pick poised for NBA return after dominant EuroLeague run originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>The NBA journey of one of the San Antonio Spurs' former first-round picks may not be over after all.

>According to NBA insider Marc Stein, former Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV may draw interest from NBA teams this summer. Walker played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague last season. However, NBA franchises only limited window to bring him back.

>Actually Walker's contract reportedly includes an NBA out clause. The star guard can enforce this clause if he is signed by an NBA team before July 15.

Lonnie Walker IV is a candidate to return to the NBA this summer, league sources say, after the scoring guard played in the EuroLeague last season.

The seven-year NBA vet (10.0 PPG) has an NBA out in his Maccabi Tel Aviv contract until July 15 and is expected to draw interest. pic.twitter.com/EbmLbaECii

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 27, 2026Walker drawing some interest has a lot to do with his EuroLeague average of 15.2 points per game. His production plus his skillset with the ball in his hands can probably land him back in the league.

>MORE: Who is Lonnie Walker IV? Meet the Lakers reserve who LeBron James credits for Game 4 win

A promising Spurs career that never took offLonnie Walker IV was drafted in 2018, 18th overall selection by the Spurs. Over the next four years, he showed flashes of brilliance. He scored a career-high 28 points against the Houston Rockets in December 2019.

>Walker couldn't provide consistency on both ends of the floor as he couldn't secure a starting role with the Spurs before departing in free agency in 2022.

>He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, starting 32 games in the 2022-23 season, averaging 11.7 points per game. He suffered knee tendinitis that sidelined him for 14 games. Before the injury, he was averaging 14.7 points in 29.8 minutes per game, but after returning, the Lakers couldn't give him much time due to Austin Reaves and other notable acquisitions in D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura at the trade deadline.

>This is when his game and playing time started to fall apart in the NBA.

>In 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets, but he felt disrespected, and therefore, he decided to leave after just one year. In August 2024, he signed with the Boston Celtics only to get waived after two months.

>With no significant interest in the NBA, Walker went overseas, signing with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. He helped the basketball club win the King Mindaugas Cup. But just four days later, on Feb. 19, 2025, he left the team to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA.

>With the Sixers in 20 appearances, the former first round pick averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. The 76ers didn't exercise his option, making him a free agent. Once again, Walker went overseas, this time signing with  Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague, with NBA exit clauses included for 2025 and 2026.

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