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Lucas Walker

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Lucas Walker
Walker in March 2017
Illawarra Hawks
PositionForward
LeagueNBL1 East
Personal information
Born (1984-12-06) 6 December 1984 (age 39)
Launceston, Tasmania
NationalityAustralian
Listed height202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight102 kg (225 lb)
Career information
High schoolRiverside (Launceston, Tasmania)
Launceston College
(Launceston, Tasmania)
CollegeMontana State–Billings (2004–2006)
Saint Mary's (2007–2009)
NBA draft2009: undrafted
Playing career2002–present
Career history
2002Launceston Tigers
2003North-West Tasmania Thunder
2004Australian Institute of Sport
2010Dandenong Rangers
2010–2015Melbourne Tigers/United
2013Ballarat Miners
2015–2016Dandenong Rangers
2015–2016Adelaide 36ers
2016–2018Perth Wildcats
2017Mackay Meteors
2018Frankston Blues
2018–2019Cairns Taipans
2019Nunawading Spectres
2019–2020Sydney Kings
2022–presentIllawarra Hawks
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Australia
Men's Basketball
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast Team competition

Lucas Walker (born 6 December 1984) is an Australian basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL1 East. He played 10 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2010 and 2020. He played college basketball for Montana State University Billings and Saint Mary's College of California before joining the Melbourne Tigers in 2010. After five seasons with Melbourne, he had stints with the Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Cairns Taipans and Sydney Kings. He won an NBL championship with the Wildcats in 2017.

Early life and career

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Born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania, Walker attended West Launceston Primary School, Riverside High School and Launceston College.[1] He played three seasons in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), with the Launceston Tigers in 2002 and the North-West Tasmania Thunder in 2003,[2] before moving to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport and play for the program's SEABL team in 2004.[3]

College career

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Walker moved to the United States to attend Montana State University Billings, where as a freshman in 2004–05, he was named the Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20 games (17 starts).[4] As a sophomore in 2005–06, he averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games (17 starts).[4]

In 2006, Walker transferred to Saint Mary's College of California. After redshirting the 2006–07 season due to NCAA transfer rules, he appeared in 25 games off the bench for the Gaels in 2007–08, averaging 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in 9.3 minutes per game. As a senior in 2008–09, he played 25 games (8 starts) and averaged 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.[4]

Professional career

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Upon returning to Australia, Walker played for the Dandenong Rangers during the 2010 SEABL season before joining the Melbourne Tigers for the 2010–11 NBL season.[5] He played five seasons with Melbourne, with the 2014–15 season marking his final season with the club. In 131 games, he averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.[6] During this time, he played for the Ballarat Miners in the SEABL in 2013.[7] For the 2015 SEABL season, he returned to the Dandenong Rangers.[8]

For the 2015–16 NBL season, Walker played for the Adelaide 36ers.[9][10] He returned for another season with Dandenong in 2016.

After having a pre-season stint with the Brisbane Bullets,[11] Walker joined the Perth Wildcats in September 2016 as an injury replacement for Matthew Knight.[12][13] On 20 October 2016, after Knight was given the all-clear to return to action, Walker was removed from the active 11-man playing roster.[14] Despite being unable to return to the court for the Wildcats for the remainder of the 2016–17 season, Walker remained a big part of the playing group, completed every training session and excelled in his community work off the court. He was subsequently a member of the championship-winning team in March 2017, and at the Wildcats MVP Ball, he was named the recipient of the Coaches' Award.[15] After playing in the Queensland Basketball League with the Mackay Meteors during the 2017 off-season,[16] Walker re-joined the Wildcats for the 2017–18 season as a full-time player.[17] On 8 December 2017, Walker had 12 points and 16 rebounds in an 88–79 win over the Adelaide 36ers. Twelve of his 16 rebounds were offensive, the most ever recorded in the NBL's 40-minute era.[18]

After a short off-season stint with the Frankston Blues in the SEABL,[19] Walker joined the Cairns Taipans for the 2018–19 NBL season.[20] Following the season, the Taipans cut ties with Walker.[21] In April 2019, Walker joined the Nunawading Spectres of the NBL1.[22] In August 2019, he helped the Spectres win the NBL1 championship.[23][24]

On 2 September 2019, Walker signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2019–20 NBL season.[25]

Walker announced his retirement from the NBL on 1 February 2021.[26][27]

In March 2022, Walker joined the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL1 East.[28] He returned to the Hawks for the 2023 NBL1 East season.[29]

National team career

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Walker helped Australia win silver at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup[30] and then competed at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.[31]

Personal life

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Walker is the son of Robert and Sharyn, and has a sister named Ashleigh.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Walker stars in Aussie victory
  2. ^ Lucas Walker’s game improves on and off the court
  3. ^ Boom time for Tasmanian basketball talent Lucas Walker
  4. ^ a b c d "#12 Lucas Walker". smcgaels.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  5. ^ Tigers add three
  6. ^ Player statistics for Lucas Walker
  7. ^ BALLARAT SIGN MELBOURNE TIGERS STAR LUCAS WALKER Archived 16 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Big men give Rangers an imposing front court
  9. ^ "Walker signs for Adelaide 36ers". Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  10. ^ NBL: Lucas Walker switches from Melbourne to Adelaide
  11. ^ "BULLETS PREPARED FOR MILESTONE MOMENT". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  12. ^ "MATT KNIGHT TO MISS START OF SEASON". Wildcats.com.au. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  13. ^ "LUCAS WALKER JOINS WILDCATS". Wildcats.com.au. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  14. ^ "MATT KNIGHT TO RETURN FROM INJURY". Wildcats.com.au. 20 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  15. ^ "CASEY PRATHER MAKES IT BACK-TO-BACK GORDON ELLIS MEDALS". Wildcats.com.au. 18 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Meteors bring in NBL player to cover injured Harvey's spot". DailyMercury.com.au. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  17. ^ "LUCAS WALKER SIGNS WITH PERTH WILDCATS". Wildcats.com.au. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Wildcats too good for 36ers". Wildcats.com.au. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  19. ^ TRIST AND RICHARDS HEADLINE SENIOR BLUES AWARD WINNERS
  20. ^ "Taipans Begin Rebuild with Lucas Walker". NBL.com.au. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Eventful Off-Season Leads 'Waxy' to First 3×3 Crack". 3x3hustle.com. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Australian Boomer Lucas Walker Joins Nunawading". NBL1.com.au. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Grand Final - Nunawading vs Bendigo". NBL1.com.au. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Spectres vs Braves". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Sydney Finalise Roster with Lucas Walker". NBL.com.au. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Shout out to one of the good guys, Lucas 'Waxy' Walker, who has announced his retirement after a decade of dedication to the NBL and basketball in Australia". facebook.com/TheNBL. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. ^ Hersz, Tom (17 February 2021). "Waxy Calls Time on Playing Career". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Basketball Illawarra is very excited to announce that Former NBL Player, Lucas Walker, will be suiting up for our inaugural NBL1 season". facebook.com/IllawarraBasketball. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  29. ^ "NBL1 East Illawarra Hawks Round 3 Recap". hawks.com.au. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Our Gold & Silver Gangurrus". australia.basketball. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  31. ^ "3x3 World Cup Tips Off for Australia". NBL.com.au. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
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