Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Praises Spurs Ex Lonnie Walker IV After Lakers' Game 4 Win vs. Warriors
San Antonio Spurs fans are feeling a range of emotions Tuesday after watching Lonnie Walker IV's performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 4 win against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Walker, a former first-round pick by San Antonio in 2018, left the Spurs last summer after signing a one-year "prove it" deal with the Lakers ... and last night, he proved why he can be valuable to an NBA roster.
Despite not scoring in the first three quarters, Walker scored 15 of the Lakers' 27 fourth-quarter points to beat the Warriors and take a 3-1 lead in the series.
"It's not even about tonight," LeBron James said in his TNT postgame interview. "I've been telling him, I said, 'Lonnie, stay ready. We're going to need you at some point.' And for him to be as young as he is, for him to have that professionalism, come out, stay ready when his number is called. We don't win this game without Lonnie Walker tonight, that's for sure."
Walker was a consistent role player for the Spurs across his four seasons in San Antonio, averaging 9.4 points per game. However, the Spurs only made the playoffs during Walker's rookie season, where he contributed the least out of his four years.
Seeing Walker's success on such a large stage can be gratifying for Spurs fans, but can also leave them wondering ... what if?
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