Lonnie Walker IV of the LA Lakers stayed ready and showed up in Game 4 with a playoff career-high 15 points in the final period, helping his team to a 104-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. This incredible performance makes him the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 1997 to score 15 points or more off the bench in a postseason. Exactly 26 years ago, to the day, Bryant scored 17 points off the bench on May 8, 1997, against the Utah Jazz.
Walker fell out of the Lakers’ rotation midway through the season, but he stayed active in the gym and waited for the right opportunity to showcase his skills. He praised God for the chance to live his dream, saying, “Due diligence and fortitude, I got to be able to show what I was capable of doing.”
After the game, LeBron James lauded Walker for his contribution and admitted that they would have lost the game without him. James had a team-high 27 points but struggled with his shooting, making Walker’s contribution even more crucial.
“The harder you work, the better the outcome,” Walker said in an inspiring take after his heroics. “This is something I’ve been dreaming my entire life and manifesting it. The work that I put in, and the trust that the coaching staff and the team put in me, allowed me to have this kind of game.”
"I've been doing this for 24 years of my life. I've always been in the gym."
Lonnie Walker IV joins the Fellas after a big-time playoff performance 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/twc90rOhhj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 9, 2023
Walker’s resilience and determination despite falling out of the Lakers’ rotation is an inspiration to many, and his performance in Game 4 is proof that hard work and preparation always pay off. Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith all congratulated Walker for his great game and for staying ready when his number was called.
The Lakers will face the Warriors again in Game 5 on Wednesday, with the defending champions hoping to survive and force a Game 6 back in Los Angeles. With Walker’s incredible performance fresh in their minds, the Lakers will undoubtedly look to him for inspiration and a spark off the bench.
Lonnie Walker IV Shines in Lakers’ Victory over Warriors to Take 3-1 Series Lead
Lonnie Walker IV came off the bench in Game 4 of the Lakers’ playoff series against the Golden State Warriors and put up 15 crucial points in the fourth quarter, leading the team to a 104-101 victory and a 3-1 series lead. This feat made him the first Laker to score 15 points or more in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant did it 26 years ago to the day.
Walker’s six field goals in the final quarter matched the entire Warriors team, and his pull-up jumper over Stephen Curry with 1:53 remaining gave the Lakers a lead they would not surrender. LeBron James praised Walker’s contribution, saying, “The game ball definitely goes to him. We don’t win without him.”
Walker, who had not been a significant part of Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s playoff rotation until Game 3, collapsed to the floor in disbelief when the game ended, overwhelmed by the moment. James and Anthony Davis quickly picked him up and embraced him before the entire team mobbed him to celebrate.
Walker’s defense was also instrumental in holding Curry and Klay Thompson to a combined 4-for-15 in the fourth. If he continues to contribute throughout the rest of the postseason, the Lakers may consider restructuring his contract for a longer-term commitment. The Lakers can close out the series on Wednesday in San Francisco.
