Sixers, Heat, Celtics among teams interested in Lonnie Walker IV

Lonnie Walker: I don’t know if it was God or who answered my prayers, but the city of Kaunas and Coach Andrea (Trinchieri)—when we had our first Zoom call—everything I could have asked for from a coach was there. He understood my goals, what I wanted to become, and even the idea of getting back to the NBA. The first thing he said was, “Yo, you deserve to be in the NBA, and I’m going to try everything in my power to get you back there. But not only am I trying to get you back to the NBA, I want you to reach your best self. I want you to be a defensive stopper. I want you to add more aspects to your game and show what you can do.” -via YouTube / December 10, 2024

Lonnie Walker on LeBron James: I’ll tell you this: he was the first one in the gym every single day. If he was on the court at 8:00, he’d be there at 7:30. I’d try to get there early—8:00 or 8:30—and every time, I’d find him already in a full sweat, working out. His routine was precise and on point. He was never late. Everything he did showed me why he ran the East for so many years. His work ethic is unmatched. -via YouTube / December 10, 2024

Lonnie Walker: I’ve been around a lot of pros, Hall of Famers like LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan. But for his age, LeBron’s work ethic was on a whole different level. He didn’t play any games, man. Every day at 8:00 a.m., he was working. He was hungry, like he was a rookie again, like it was his first year. You’d think he had nothing left to prove—he’s the GOAT—but he acted like he had everything to prove. On off days, he worked. When there was no practice, he worked. He was the first one in the gym and the last player to leave. He did everything necessary for recovery—cold tubs, massages, icing his knees, ankles, and back. Even during games, at halftime, he’d ice his entire body. He had a level of attention to detail and discipline I’ve never seen. He put his ankles in recovery boots and managed every aspect of his diet and body care with precision. His habits and commitment to the game were unlike anything I’ve witnessed. He didn’t slack off, and he never took a day off. There was a method to his madness. -via YouTube / December 10, 2024