By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A veteran of 343 NBA games, Lonnie Walker IV is impressed by the level of play in Europe.
In late October, the 25-year-old American guard signed with Zalgiris. While another opportunity in the NBA remains his priority, dealing with stars of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is the immediate challenge.
“Everyone is smart here, nobody plays the wrong way. It’s real basketball over here. It’s not like you have one or two players who just take all the shots,” he mentioned during an appearance on the Triple Threat Show podcast.
🇺🇸🗣 Lonnie Walker: “Everyone is smart here, nobody plays the wrong way. It’s real basketball over here. It’s not like you have 1 or 2 players who just take all the shots.” pic.twitter.com/UCYkBL614k
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 10, 2024
“If the opportunity presents itself to return to the NBA, I will be happy. If I stay in the Euroleague, I will be happy too,” he stressed.
A former teammate in the form of Kendrick Nunn already became a EuroLeague champion with Panathinaikos Aktor.
“I’m definitely going to put my money on Nunn as the best player right now, just because from what he’s done last year to what he’s doing this year,” he ranked the 29-year-old guard over the remaining stars.
“I think my close second, if not my 1B, would be Mike James because of his overall game and what he can do,” Walker continued with AS Monaco’s leader, Mike James, “People see him as a scorer, but he can give you ten assists and pass the ball just as good as he can score. I think his name is respected in all of basketball.”
🇺🇲😤 Lonnie Walker IV is showing he means business in the Euroleague! pic.twitter.com/vMgeJgGznE
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 10, 2024
From the previous season’s MVP to the MVP of the 2022-23 season, Sasha Vezenkov.
“That dude is a killer. He doesn’t even need a dribble to give you 30 if he wanted to,” said Walker.
Lonnie Walker IV made his Final Four prediction 👀🤩
DROP your prediction 👇 pic.twitter.com/vStLQYWRcX
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 11, 2024
With twenty games remaining for every team in the 2024-25 Regular Season of the EuroLeague, the former player of the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs predicted Zalgiris will make the Final Four alongside Panathinaikos, Partizan Mozzart Bet, and Real Madrid.