Lonnie Walker IV has returned to the EuroLeague, signing a contract with Beşiktaş after a brief stint with the Denver Nuggets ended in his release. The 27-year-old American guard joins his third club in Europe’s premier competition following previous spells with Zalgiris Kaunas and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Denver Tryout and European Landing Spot
Walker joined the Denver Nuggets in August on a trial deal and participated in the team’s training camp and preseason preparations. However, the franchise waived him from the roster. Following his release from the NBA side, Beşiktaş moved quickly to present an offer to the perimeter scorer. Walker accepted the proposal, formalizing his transition back across the Atlantic.
While Beşiktaş formally announced the acquisition, additional reporting from the Israeli sports outlet Sport5 noted that the end of Walker’s NBA pursuit generated attention throughout European basketball circles, prompting the Turkish club to table their offer.
Scoring Pedigree Across Two Continents
Walker brings extensive high-level experience to his new team. According to team announcements and coverage by Walla Sport, his NBA career spans 342 regular-season appearances across four franchises—the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers—where he averaged 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest.
In Europe, Walker established himself before moving to Zalgiris and then Maccabi Tel Aviv last season. Walla Sport detailed that during his tenure with Maccabi, Walker appeared in 45 games, averaging 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in domestic and continental play.
Backcourt Reinforcements for a Struggling Side
Beşiktaş signed the veteran guard to stabilize a backcourt currently navigating a challenging stretch in both domestic and international competition. The club recently suffered a 100–82 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv in Sofia, leaving the Turkish team with a 2–3 record after five rounds of play.
Walla Sport confirmed that Beşiktaş sits outside the immediate qualification places as they prepare to face Bayern Munich. Walker’s arrival aims to inject perimeter scoring depth into a roster looking to climb the standings.
Worth a look
