© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Lonnie Walker IV shines in the Nets' win against the 76ers
Lonnie Walker IV was crucial in the Nets’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers. The hot-shooting guard scored 19 points and had a game-high plus-minus of +29, epitomizing his massive impact in the win.
Coach Kevin Ollie subbed Lonnie out after the 25-year-old didn’t grab an easy rebound, leading to the 76ers scoring. That irked KO because he asserted that the Nets must play with energy and assertiveness, especially on the glass. Lonnie responded to this well, as he played with more energy and had an impactful performance in the win.
“He put some more energy into my soul, as far as I gotta lock in and really pick it up and understand we’re not taking these possessions for granted, we’re playing the right way,” Lonnie said with his response to Coach KO’s challenge to him.
“I owe it to my teammates, to say the least. He’s been challenging me. He’s a great guy since he was the assistant coach; that’s who I was with, inside and out.”
Lonnie proved why he’s the Nets’ star sixth-man
Since the start of the season under former Coach Jacque Vaughn, Walker has been the team’s primary option off the bench. He had some rough stretches due to injury along the way, but he has been consistent with his production off the bench.
Lonnie understands the weight he’s carrying with his role, leading to him showing his complete skill set in the win against Philly. He was hitting three-point shots and attacking the rim, which helped his teammates get more open looks in future possessions.
That kind of gravity is what any team needs from a sixth man, and Lonnie is playing the role to a tee. Coach KO should be pleased with how Lonnie played, given he stepped up to the challenge and was a game-changer for the Nets.
Lonnie wants to keep building momentum
Walker knows he can do even more with his minutes moving forward. That’s a good attitude, especially when Brooklyn will take everything they can get from their players in the Play-In Tournament race.
“I’m just trying to start to stack the days as far as post-All-Star break, I haven’t really been finding my rhythm offensively. I think I came into this game a lot more focused, a lot more in tune,” Lonnie said in his post-game presser, addressing how he wants to keep improving.
Having someone like Lonnie stand out in the game like this will be vital in the race for a Play-In spot. The effort will level up with this kind of performance, which brings nothing but positives to a Nets team that needs it.
