Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV showcases his preparedness in bench role
His eyes scanning the score sheet, Darvin Ham wound up near the bottom of the roster, around a name next to a big number.
For the previous three games, Lonnie Walker IV had been listed alongside the same thing: “DNP – Coach’s Decision,” arguably the hardest words for a player to read. But on Friday against the Thunder when Lakers needed a scoring punch from the guard position in one of their most important games to date, Walker delivered with 20 points.
Ham lingered on Walker, saying he’d be “remiss” if he didn’t acknowledge how professionally he’s been handling himself.
“He didn’t have to come out and worry about getting ready; he’s been staying ready,” Ham said. “And if he doesn’t have that performance, we don’t win this game.”
Of all the Lakers still remaining on the roster from the offseason, Walker might be in the most difficult position. He was signed with the team’s mid-level salary slot, one of the biggest offseason options they had to acquire talent. At first, that looked like a solid investment: Walker was the team’s third-leading scorer (14.7 ppg) behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis in his first 32 games, shooting over 38% from 3-point range.
But around the turn of the calendar, circumstances shifted. Walker was injured, missing 14 consecutive games. When he returned, he had lost his starting spot and fell out of favor in the rotation. In five of the last eight games, Walker has been a coach’s decision scratch.
It weighed on him, he admitted Friday night. Walker has been leaning on his faith, believing he’ll return with “divine timing,” he said. In the meantime, he’s been working.
“Every day I’ve been in the gym, just being positive, understanding what we’re doing, what we’re trying to accomplish, and staying ready,” he said. “I have great people like (assistant coach) Chris Jent to talk to almost every other day, even when I have my ups and downs. And my teammates have made me not being able to play much easier. I love these guys, and I’m happy to be playing with them.”
Ham gave Walker props behind closed doors, as did his teammates. Dennis Schröder said flat out: “He’s the guy who won us the game.” Walker said James, who has been sidelined for weeks, gave him credit. Davis also said something to Walker before they walked off the court.
“I can only just imagine how it messes with the mind,” Davis said. “To be mentally strong to go from a starter to move to the bench, don’t play. Then come in and play big minutes, help the team win: You got to be a strong-minded individual for that. So I just wanted to let him know in the moment how professional he is and constantly staying ready.”
Pat Bev revenge game?
For as much energy as Patrick Beverley brings to the court, it’s really his mouth that never stops running.
The Lakers traded Beverley at the deadline to the Orlando Magic for Mo Bamba, who has largely been injured. But they’re also probably not about to regret a series of deals that has helped them go 12-6 and finally enter the playoff picture, even with James limited by injuries.
The 34-year-old guard has been awfully chatty about his old team in recent weeks after signing with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent. He said near the time of his signing that one of his goals was to knock the Lakers out of the postseason entirely. He also recently said on his podcast that his suggestions were either tuned out or underappreciated in his tenure.
“They don’t listen to me,” Beverley said. “You gotta go through the first-year coach, then LeBron, then AD, then Russ, then it get to me. You don’t hear my (expletive) the way you should hear my (expletive).”
Naturally, the Lakers have two upcoming games against Chicago – Sunday at home, then Wednesday on the road.
It might be surprising to hear a player who averaged 6.4 points and 2.6 assists and who had a minus-2.9 net rating when he was on the court complain so bitterly about a tenure with the Lakers that didn’t reach anyone’s expectations. But Davis, who also hails from Beverley’s hometown of Chicago and had a preexisting relationship with the fiery guard, wasn’t surprised. He treated Beverley’s tempestuous dialogue with a jovial, eye-rolling sort of evenness.
“I expect nothing less from anything that Pat Bev said,” Davis said. “I’ve known him outside of basketball. Obviously we’re both from the same city. But that’s what he wants. He has no filter, he’s going to say how he feels. We don’t look too deep into it. But I love seeing it. It’s funny to me.”
As for Beverley’s hope to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs – arguably a goal he was achieving as a member of the Lakers before he was traded?
“I mean, he can come try,” Davis said. “He can come try. A lot of people have tried … We’ll see Sunday.”