Lonnie Walker IV is a joke of an NBA player

[razor247]

This guy flat out is lost in space on the floor. He looks like a little kid that is lost in the mall. He can't defend, cant shoot, he slides on the floor because his shoes don't fit, and his hair is stupid as crap. This idiot has no skill whatsoever. Why is he even in a uniform? Why does Carroll never play? Why don't have one great shooter?

[Genovaswitness]

this is kind of the dark truth tbh. dude is a shit player. he actually isn’t competitive at all and just looks like a turd whenever he’s out there. such is the 2019-2020 spurs. Murray will be requesting a trade by the end of next year I’m sure

[timtonymanu]

How can he show anything for a team with no identity and an antiquated system? Lol watch him develop fine on any other team that would actually play him.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

I'd like to see him play more than 2 minutes and not be yanked for any fucking mistake. Poor kid is playing on egg shells, scared to make a mistake; all the while that Italian scrub can fuck up how ever he wants and play 18 minutes

[Dhbsr555]

Lonnie gonna be a star just not on the spurs

[Jordan Jackson]

Well he's playing for a joke of a franchise at the moment so *shrug*

[Harry Callahan]

Some players ahead of him will play themselves out of the rotation in the next 4-6 weeks. Walker needs ON COURT experience in longer than three minute spurts.

The inbounds pass in the third quarter was awful, but more veteran players were sucking as much or worse.

At least he has NBA level athletic ability - the coaching staff has to keep on Walker and keep him engaged. He can be something in time. Walker, White, and Murray can get in the grill of opponents and not allow the numerous uncontested shots we are seeing from the older players on the team.

Tonight was cluster on the defensive end.

[TimDunkem]

It's possible, but it's hard to say until he gets consistent minutes instead of the established joke that is Belinelli.

[r0drig0lac]

yep, your 12 minutes played in the season really showed https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smirolleyes.gif

[BatManu20]

Kid’s 20 years old and gets benched anytime he makes a mistake. I agree he looks green and unsure of himself, but that usually gets better with experience. He’s clearly got talent. Whether or not he becomes a good player for us depends on a lot of variables. Time will tell.

[sananspursfan21]

Ha! I guess you didn’t watch Murray’s early career! For that matter, you must not have watched hardly any Spurs young player in their early days

[daslicer]

Lonnie is super athletic that's pretty much it. Right now he is a poor man's Jonathan Simmons.

[AussieFanKurt]

If he was allowed to do whatever the fuck he wants like that Italian cunt, you’d probably see something out of him

[Mugen]

Pop's neutering of him is almost complete so you might be onto something.

The kid has one eye over his shoulder every time he's out there because he knows the old man and that Italian fuck are getting ready to tag team his ass as soon as he dribbles wrong.

Calling him out publicly was great, embarrassing him with a minute or two here and there and axing him as soon as he fucks up is just the cherry on top.

[Mugen]

The first time in forever Pop has some athleticism on the roster and he forces them to play like an NBA team before black people were in the league. :lol

Fucking retire.

[DC23]

Lonnie is super athletic that's pretty much it. Right now he is a poor man's Jonathan Simmons.
With a significantly higher ceiling...

[JeffDuncan]

If Walker is a joke of a player he should get 30 minutes every game, because this edition of the Spurs is a joke of an NBA team.

[daslicer]

With a significantly higher ceiling...

People are jumping to conclusions that he will be a star simply because he has out of this world athleticism but that's all he has right now.

[Capt Bringdown]

Spurs need athleticism, but probably won't get it from Walker, who appears to have a head full of mush.

[Dhbsr555]

For those that days he has no jumpshot.. you can’t sit for 18 minutes then expect him come in for two minutes and shoot lights out. Let him play 20 minutes let’s see what he can do. Beli is beyond trash.

[Mugen]

Spurs need athleticism, but probably won't get it from Walker, who appears to have a head full of mush.

You're basing that off....12 minutes this season, yeah? Because he's looked pretty damn good every other time he's gotten regular run. But sure okay - 12 minutes.

[timtonymanu]

You're basing that off....12 minutes this season, yeah? Because he's looked pretty damn good every other time he's gotten regular run. But sure okay - 12 minutes.

Exactly. And I don’t understand people that watch this team and think what they’re running out there is efficient in the first place. This system is a joke to the entire NBA and only appeals to bitter old fans that grew up with 90s ball. So of course they find enjoyment out of this unwatchable crap. How can Lonnie even work on anything when the system is so outdated in the first place?

[Prose]

Some players ahead of him will play themselves out of the rotation in the next 4-6 weeks. Walker needs ON COURT experience in longer than three minute spurts.

The inbounds pass in the third quarter was awful, but more veteran players were sucking as much or worse.

At least he has NBA level athletic ability - the coaching staff has to keep on Walker and keep him engaged. He can be something in time. Walker, White, and Murray can get in the grill of opponents and not allow the numerous uncontested shots we are seeing from the older players on the team.

Tonight was cluster on the defensive end.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

a part of me thinks pop is giving beli one last chance to demonstrate he’s not scrap metal. we’ll see after 20 games

[TimmyBuckets]

He'll get into the rhythm of things soon enough. He's not in the G league anymore, Murray's on mins restrictions, and mazeratti is shitting the bed every night. He'll get his time and it seems Pop is already being really hard on him to get better.

[GreekSpursfan]

He showed nothing in summer league, can't expect him to suddenly appear in an NBA game and be anything decent. Pop will give him time thoughout the season but only if he shows anything in practice, mainly effort and desire in the defensive end. If he doesn't, doghouse it is then.

[Robz4000]

He showed nothing in summer league, can't expect him to suddenly appear in an NBA game and be anything decent. Pop will give him time thoughout the season but only if he shows anything in practice, mainly effort and desire in the defensive end. If he doesn't, doghouse it is then.

Uh, he was the best player in SL. They literally shut him down after like 3 games because he was shitting on everyone in Vegas.

[GreekSpursfan]

Uh, he was the best player in SL. They literally shut him down after like 3 games because he was shitting on everyone in Vegas.

My definition of best player is not the same as yours. Being the best player starts from the defensive end and i think Pop has the same mindset.

[Robz4000]

My definition of best player is not the same as yours. Best player starts from the defensive end and i think Pop has the same mindset.

Best player is most dominant on the court. You can be great at defense but if you bring nothing to the offensive end you'll never last in the league.

[dabom7]

My nigga's floor is Scottie Pippen TBH.

[duncan2k5]

How can he show anything for a team with no identity and an antiquated system? Lol watch him develop fine on any other team that would actually play him.

[RC_Drunkford]

If he's a joke of an NBA player than at least half of the Spurs roster is...which might be the case

[Slippy]

Who was responsible for drafting this guy. If he was going to be unplayable in pop eyes.

Spurs are getting no return and arnt exactly maximizing his trade value.

What's the point in drafting the best available if the coach can't adjust to a player such as Lonnie.

[monty4329]

Who was responsible for drafting this guy. If he was going to be unplayable in pop eyes.

Spurs are getting no return and arnt exactly maximizing his trade value.

What's the point in drafting the best available if the coach can't adjust to a player such as Lonnie.

Drafting is a crap shot. Most of the people drafted below 15 have a relatively marginal NAB career, if any. You draft potential, and hope to develop it. In LW case, the potential is his superb body and nothing else, unfortunately. Every minute he gets, is a minute gifted to the opposing team. I really can't understand the fascination of many posters here for this guy, he can't play NBA basketball at all.

[jjktkk]

How can he show anything for a team with no identity and an antiquated system? Because that's how he can prove he deserves more minutes. I would love for Lonnie to keep Belinelli's ass on the bench.

[monty4329]

What's the point in drafting the best available if the coach can't adjust to a player such as Lonnie.

Now we know he wasn't the best available. By far.

[BacktoBasics]

At this point he’s hampered by fear of being yanked or not playing at all. Fear of pop and PT just isn’t a good recipe for this kid. They’re better off committing 15 minutes a night and living with his shortcomings. I’m fairly certain he would clean up a lot of his game with real in game experience and legitimate playing time.

He’s going to thrive somewhere else if he or the Spurs move on. His game is a good fit for today’s style.

[duncan2k5]

At this point he’s hampered by fear of being yanked or not playing at all. Fear of pop and PT just isn’t a good recipe for this kid. They’re better off committing 15 minutes a night and living with his shortcomings. I’m fairly certain he would clean up a lot of his game with real in game experience and legitimate playing time.

He’s going to thrive somewhere else if he or the Spurs move on. His game is a good fit for today’s style.

His confidence is shot because of fear of being yanked... I said the same thing about white... But see what happened when pop was forced to play white? He was comfortable because he no longer was afraid on being yanked because he made a mistake...

I would have less of a problem with it if pop didn't give everyone else an endless chain... For goodness sake of Lonnie shot a 50 footer with 8 seconds left on the clock, Pop would bench him indefinitely

[tmtcsc]

Uh, he was the best player in SL. They literally shut him down after like 3 games because he was shitting on everyone in Vegas.

Go find Marco Belineli's SL stats. He was ridiculous. SL is trash competition.

[TDomination]

I'm sorry but he just needs more playing time. I'm not saying he will magically become a better player but we just won't know. Its stupid that these other guys who just continue to make mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake are given a free pass just because of their past.

Give him at minimum 10 games with around 20 minutes of playing time and see if he progresses. But ideally I would say 20 to 30 games would be better.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Other jokes of NBA players currently on the Spurs: Forbes. Carrol. Mills. Marco.
Jokes of NBA players that can actually improve as the year goes on: LMA and Lonnie.

[SupremeGuy]

Most people knew this dumbass was going to be a failure as soon as he opened his mouth. He's just proving them right.

[Russ]

You can be great at defense but if you bring nothing to the offensive end you'll never last in the league.

Look at Matisse Thybulle so far -- great D but shooting an astounding 24.1% from the field. :wow

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

He's very raw. Not sure if that requires development in Austin, or just more run on the court. Not sure 2 random minutes, and getting yanked for screwing up, do a lot to build someone's confidence. If you play tentative and second guess yourself, of course you're going to look like crap. LMA might look horrible in limited action too.

Then again, if he's got no head for the game and plays scared, he probably doesn't have a place in the NBA.

[J_Paco]

I'd like to see him play more than 2 minutes and not be yanked for any fucking mistake. Poor kid is playing on egg shells, scared to make a mistake; all the while that Italian scrub can fuck up how ever he wants and play 18 minutes

I have to agree with all of this, unfortunately. Especially when Pop won't at least supplant both Beli & Walker IV with Carroll, who seems like he still has something in the tank unlike Marco.

Eventually, Belinelli's terrible play will either be permanent - I think this is very likely - or will start impact the outcome of games. Once that happens Walker IV or Carroll will take his minutes from him.....


How can he show anything for a team with no identity and an antiquated system? Lol watch him develop fine on any other team that would actually play him.

The "antiquated" system plays right into the strengths Walker IV was displaying in Summer League. For whatever reason, his play and work from the summer hasn't translated to better play on the floor (in very, very limited minutes).

He needs to start making positive plays during his short stints so his minutes & confidence can build. The short leash he's on (and possibly being called out) might be in his head......

Also, if Johnson dominates in the G League or picks up the system fast enough, then I wouldn't be averse to him leapfrogging all three (Belinelli, Walker IV or Carroll) and getting a chance......

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

The first time in forever Pop has some athleticism on the roster and he forces them to play like an NBA team before black people were in the league. :lol

Fucking retire.A scrub sniffer called people pop sniffers in another thread.:rollin

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

You're basing that off....12 minutes this season, yeah? Because he's looked pretty damn good every other time he's gotten regular run. But sure okay - 12 minutes.when has he looked good?

[John B]

The kid has more athletic skills than anybody in the team. The NBA game just needs to slow down on him and that takes time. He really needs Beli’s minutes tbh. Beli is shooting crap with no defense.

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

Uh, he was the best player in SL. They literally shut him down after like 3 games because he was shitting on everyone in Vegas.2 assist in 3 games, sorry defense and was a chucker.

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

My nigga's floor is Scottie Pippen TBH. and his ceiling is Gary Neal.

[Capt Bringdown]

His ceiling is Wiley Peck. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiley_Peck)

[Russ]

Then again, if he's got no head for the game and plays scared, he probably doesn't have a place in the NBA.

Pop doesn't want Walker to play scared like he's about to get pulled.

Pop wants Walker to hate him and think he's got nothing to lose and then play that way.

And then after his situation is secure, continue to draw on that feeling and continue to play that way.

Don't despair, it's a system. Pop doesn't care how Walker plays now or whether they lose a game early on. Pop only cares about how Walker plays two years from now (if he makes it).

[exstatic]

Look at Matisse Thybulle so far -- great D but shooting an astounding 24.1% from the field. :wow

His DBPM is 9+. His OBPM is like -4.5. Still a very servicable 4.5 BPM. If he could even get just a serviceable jump shot, and raise his FG% to a not very amazing 40%, he'd be super valuable. He was getting like 3 steals and a block and a half in about 20 minutes.

[Mugen]

2 assist in 3 games, sorry defense and was a chucker.

Weird - he's supposed to be a Point Guard too?

The Sniffers riding with their boy Beli :lmao

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

Weird - he's supposed to be a Point Guard too?

The Sniffers riding with their boy Beli :lmaoI don't care for Beli he's a scrub too. 2 assist in 3 games is pathetic for a SG there are centers that had more assist than that. Freaking scub sniffers.

[JADG79]

The issue is Pop ego to play youngs and lose a season to develop players.

US Team was an example of Pop inability to work with youngs.

[rjv]

I'd like to see him play more than 2 minutes and not be yanked for any fucking mistake. Poor kid is playing on egg shells, scared to make a mistake; all the while that Italian scrub can fuck up how ever he wants and play 18 minutes

this is the coaching model that pop inherited from larry brown. it has proven success but mostly in the past. robinson, elliott, duncan, parker and even leonard all benefited from it, but it seems to failing with walker. but it would take a larger sample size to determine if this style of coaching is now antiquated or if there are just some players who are flat in the front, regardless. walker, at the moment, does look scared. but he also looks lost. so hard to say if it's him, pop or both.

[BillMc]

Lonnie is a great athlete and seems like a great guy, but he needs a lot of work. That said, he's really not showing much in his minutes to unseat other players. He frankly doesn't look like an NBA player at this moment.

Seems like more time in Austin would do him good. He's only 20.

[Mugen]

Lonnie is a great athlete and seems like a great guy, but he needs a lot of work. That said, he's really not showing much in his minutes to unseat other players. He frankly doesn't look like an NBA player at this moment.

Seems like more time in Austin would do him good. He's only 20.

Needs time on the court with the big boys tbh. He makes some stupid ass mistakes but he's playing on eggshells and I can tell his confidence is shook.

I don't think G League is gonna do him much good, he needs 10-15 minutes a night and not to be pulled for every single mistake.

It's not like the Spurs badly need Beli out there when he's shooting 18% from 3.

[FkLA]

Why doesn't Lonnie come in and dominate in his 3 minute stints? :cry

The guy that tore Wombat a new asshole yesterday and is averaging 28 PPG had like a 35 FG%, 20 3PT% for the first half of his rookie season. Took him half a season to figure it out and has been been balling since. Y'all are the same fools that were ready to give up on Forbes because he struggled his first playoff series. That gave up on Bert because he struggled his first playoffs too. That questioned Nephew on his way to superstardom because he had some missteps along the way (Matt Barnes, Andre Roberson).

It's a learning process. Give Lonnie minutes and he'll get there. What heights is TBD but it'll be be higher than Marco Scrubinelli that's for fucking sure.

[FkLA]

Lonnie is a great athlete and seems like a great guy, but he needs a lot of work. That said, he's really not showing much in his minutes to unseat other players. He frankly doesn't look like an NBA player at this moment.

Seems like more time in Austin would do him good. He's only 20.

His minutes? What minutes? I really don't get how anybody can think a 5 minute stint and a 2 minute stint, like 3 games apart is anything close to a fair shot.

[GAustex]

His ceiling is Wiley Peck. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiley_Peck)
Wiley now he could jump out of the gym.
Never understood how a superior athlete like him can’t make a significant mark on the game.

[Spurs Homer]

Why doesn't Lonnie come in and dominate in his 3 minute stints? :cry

The guy that tore Wombat a new asshole yesterday and is averaging 28 PPG had like a 35 FG%, 20 3PT% for the first half of his rookie season. Took him half a season to figure it out and has been been balling since. Y'all are the same fools that were ready to give up on Forbes because he struggled his first playoff series. That gave up on Bert because he struggled his first playoffs too. That questioned Nephew on his way to superstardom because he had some missteps along the way (Matt Barnes, Andre Roberson).

It's a learning process. Give Lonnie minutes and he'll get there. What heights is TBD but it'll be be higher than Marco Scrubinelli that's for fucking sure.


this


finally -someone gets it

[Slippy]

The issue is Pop ego to play youngs and lose a season to develop players.

US Team was an example of Pop inability to work with youngs.

That's an excellent point. Didn't fox leave early just before WC's. Pop would of thought awesome, this ain so bad my whipping boy Dwhite ready to take over

[Slippy]

this


finally -someone gets it

Most get this. Pop has it already worked out. I'n his head Bellli is the white stiff to set the example to all his younger players and the floor spacer. The designated spacers are Patty and Bryn also

The priority for pop is roles over talent.

[Down Under]

His man defense has looked good when he's engaged.

[wildcardX]

If he's really not going to see minutes then they should send him to G-league. Not going to get better sitting on bench. Besides he only has played a partial year in college and missed the beginning in Austin last season. Walker and Metu should be in Austin, the two way players have more experience than those two.

[phxspurfan]

The Hawks announcers (League Pass...) were praising how Trae Young was given the license to go something like 0-6 or 0-9 or whatever in the beginning of the game and shoot his way out of the slump. FWIW.