It has been quite some time since former 76ers wing Lonnie Walker IV saw real action in the NBA. After heading back to Europe last season, he was not able to return to the league in the 2025-26 season. However, he is set to make his comeback in the upcoming campaign as he recently inked a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets.
Be that as it may, Walker's path to securing his footing in the NBA anew will depend on how he fares in training camp and in the preseason. After all, it was just revealed that his contract with the Nuggets is a non-guaranteed one, which means that he has no choice but to fight for career before the regular season even officially opens.
Ex-76ers wing Lonnie Walker faces crucial hurdle as he eyes NBA return
Walker last suited up in the league for the 76ers during the 2024-25 campaign, where Philly was absolutely wrecked by injuries left and right. He appeared in 20 outings for the team, starting in seven games and averaging 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in just a hair under 24 minutes a night.
The 76ers front office, however, decided against bringing him back for the past season, opting to spend their open roster spots for more veteran commodities instead. That made it difficult for him to start the offseason on a high note, and ultimately, he had to settle for playing opportunities overseas. During the previous campaign, he suited up for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague.
Denver is in dire need of more production off the bench, which makes the addition of Walker a sensible one. However, with DeMar DeRozan arriving to their squad and presumably adjusting to a prominent role off the bench, Walker will have to turn in a really strong camp for the Nuggets' front office to feel comfortable bringing him in for the ride.
Walker is a capable scorer who can hit shots from all three levels, but he has problems with his efficiency. He is only a career 42.2 percent shooter from the field and a 35.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc. While those figures are not necessarily measly, they hardly deserve praise.
If he wants to solidify his grasp on the Nuggets' final roster spot, he also has to showcase his ability to impact the game beyond scoring. He has all the tools to be an asset on defense, but his court awareness has been a bit suspect on that end. His secondary playmaking also has to improve, given that he has had issues with his decision-making in the past, especially during his initial stint with the Spurs.
Lonnie Walker IV is a talented player with good enough upside to be a rotation-caliber piece on a winning team. Hopefully, he will be able to show his improvement across the board, lest his comeback bid with the Nuggets could end up not materializing.
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