Inside The Nets

Lonnie Walker IV still set to miss more games due to illness, per HC Vaughn

Nets’ sixth man continues to get sidelined as illness hits his condition.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Lonnie Walker IV and the Brooklyn Nets were already going inclined according to their reignition plan until an unexpected setback crippled the hotshot guard.

Speaking in front of reporters before their 118-112 Tuesday win against the Detroit Pistons, Vaughn revealed that Walker IV will continue to be out for the Nets as he is suffering from an illness.

“Yeah, Lonnie didn’t join us here in Detroit. The thought was he was going to travel with us. Had a little setback because of a virus,” Vaughn said. “So he’s been sick. And so really the last, I’m going to say three days, he hasn’t been able to be on court. And so again, he was supposed to be with us on this trip to get a workout in, wasn’t able to do that.

“So we’ve kind of pushed his availability back. We’ll check on him when [the team] gets home, and hopefully, he can continue towards working back on the court. But you won’t see him this week.”

Impact of Lonnie’s absence

The Nets’ win against the Pistons marked the 13th straight game where Walker IV was unavailable for the team. He first suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out for the entirety of his inactive span.

His absence critically inflicted Brooklyn dating back to the team’s grueling five-game road trip in the West side as the Nets registered a 6-7 record since his lengthy absence.

When could Lonnie make a return?

This season, Lonnie has established himself as the Nets’ primary spark plug off the bench. Before his absence, he appeared for 17 games in which he averaged 14.6 points — the fourth-highest mark for a player who plays below 25 minutes.

Brooklyn has three more games to play this week. Based on what coach Vaughn indicated about the sixth man’s return, Lonnie might be back for next week, Jan. 2, against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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