By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After one month at Zalgiris, Lonnie Walker IV is averaging 16.3 points per Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game and 8.0 points per contest in Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL. However, he is up to 19.4 points per game over his last five showings between the continental and domestic leagues.
Helping the team coached by Andrea Trinchieri jump to 8-6 in the EuroLeague on Thursday, he netted 18 points with 5/13 field goals against Anadolu Efes in Zalgirio Arena.
“There are double teams in the NBA depending on what the player is if you’re the main guy,” he said after the game, reacting to extensive defensive pressure applied by the opponents, “I definitely take that with a lot of gratitude, understanding that I’m a really hard player to guard.”
“Coming with the double teams, you continue to grow, and you continue to get better as a player. As I watch film, I can only get better and better by the day,” added the 25-year-old shooting guard, “I have only been here for a month, and I think the best is yet to come.”
A veteran of 343 appearances in the NBA, the Pennsylvania native switched to Europe’s premier club continental competition in late October. Overcoming early struggles, he is confirming projections about becoming the first option in offense for the Kaunas outfit.
Moving forward in the 2024-25 schedule, Zalgiris hosts defending LKL champion Rytas on Sunday before visiting Real Madrid in the next EuroLeague challenge on Thursday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net