Lakers News: How LA Teammates' Support For A Benched Lonnie Walker Paid Off Last Night

Walker was huge off the bench.

Last night, your Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a narrow, essential victory against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder at home, moving to a .500 record (37-37) for the first time all year and knocking the Thunder out of the play-in tournament (for now) in the process.

Reserve shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV has gone from starting at the beginning of the season to being out of the team's rotation when everyone is healthy.

Unfortunately, this being the 2022-23 Lakers, everyone is very much not healthy, and with both LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell out of the team's lineup with maladies, Walker found himself playing major minutes once again. Like any true pro, he delivered when his number was called.

In just 23:41 off the bench, Walker scored 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor (4-of-8 from deep), pulled down four rebounds and swiped three steals.

Walker spoke with reporters after the game about how he's adjusted to his more erratic playing time.

“He gave me my flowers for being ready and understanding it’s not easy and that’s something imma take to the heart.” @lonniewalker_4 was touched by the words of AD and the support of his teammates this season. pic.twitter.com/FrBmzaykDd

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 25, 2023

“Every day I've just been in the gym, being positive, understanding what we're doing, what we're trying to accomplish,"  Walker said. "Just staying ready. I have great people like [assistant coach] Chris Jent that I talk to you almost every other day, even when I have my ups and downs. 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 so just taking it day-to-day. That's all I can do -- and control the controllables." 

After the game, Davis took Walker aside for a brief pep talk, which Walker detailed to the press.

"He gave me my flowers for being ready and understanding that it’s not easy and that’s something I'm [going to] take to the heart... I'm very blessed and honored to be given the opportunity and to play to the best of my capability.”

Walker will probably be a critical piece of the team's rotation for as long as D'Angelo Russell continues to sit. He may be key for the team's home-and-home series against the Chicago Bulls, which kicks off tomorrow.

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