The Philadelphia 76ers saw some of their former players head overseas after failing to find a home in the NBA this offseason, but finally, they have now witnessed an ex-cog pull off the reverse and make it back to the league after playing outside of the NBA. As first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, Lonnie Walker IV has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets to make a successful comeback in the league.
Walker, who briefly suited up for the 76ers in the 2024-25 season when the team failed to qualify for the playoffs due to brutal injury luck, now heads to a Nuggets team that could very well revitalize his dwindling career. Even better, he has an opportunity to showcase his skills better than he could have on any other team thanks to Denver having all the tools to make him shine.
Former 76ers wing Lonnie Walker IV escapes NBA exile and lands in the best place possible for him
Walker is an uber-athletic wing who can score at all three levels and capably defend when he is fully engaged, which makes him a good addition to what Denver already has in store. The Nuggets touted the No. 1 offense in the league last season, so this is certainly as good a landing spot as could be for the 27-year-old.
He appeared in just 20 games for the 76ers in 2024-25, averaging 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a night while shooting 42 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc. Those are not noteworthy shooting splits, but it goes to show just how good he can be as a scoring option off the bench.
Players of Walker's ilk typically do well in Denver, a team that plays a highly efficient offense thanks to the brilliance of their All-Star duo in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Walker should be a very good fit for the Nuggets, who are looking to keep up with the Spurs and Thunder in the brutal Western Conference race.
Hopefully, this second (or third) chance Walker was given can finally give him a solid grasp on his footing in the NBA. He showed a lot of promise in his career early on, but he has hit a handful of roadblocks in recent years. There is clearly enough talent in his game to cement his staying power. Fortunately for him, the Nuggets are the best place possible for him to fully display what he is capable of bringing to the table for a winning squad.
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