Lucas Walker

Lucas Walker
Walker in March 2017
No. 12 – Cairns Taipans
Position Forward
League NBL
Personal information
Born (1984-12-06) 6 December 1984
Launceston, Tasmania
Nationality Australian
Listed height 202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight 102 kg (225 lb)
Career information
High school Riverside (Launceston, Tasmania)
Launceston College
(Launceston, Tasmania)
College Montana State–Billings (2004–2006)
Saint Mary's (2007–2009)
NBA draft 2009 / Undrafted
Playing career 2010–present
Career history
2010–2011 Dandenong Rangers
2010–2015 Melbourne Tigers/United
2013 Ballarat Miners
2015–2016 Dandenong Rangers
2015–2016 Adelaide 36ers
2016–2018 Perth Wildcats
2017 Mackay Meteors
2018–present Cairns Taipans
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Australia
Men's Basketball
Commonwealth Games
2018 Gold Coast Team competition

Lucas Walker (born 6 December 1984) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Montana State University Billings and Saint Mary's College of California before joining the Melbourne Tigers in 2010.

High school and college career

Born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania, Walker attended West Launceston Primary School, Riverside High School and Launceston College before moving to Canberra in 2003 to attend the Australian Institute of Sport.[1][2] The following year, he moved to the United States to attend Montana State University Billings. 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).[3] As a sophomore in 2005–06, he averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games (17 starts).[3]

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 just 9.3 minutes per game. In those 25 games, he averaged 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. In his final year in 2008–09, he played 25 games (8 starts) and averaged 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.[3]

Professional career

After graduating from Saint Mary's in 2009 with a major in business administration, Walker returned to Australia and joined the Dandenong Rangers for the 2010 SEABL season. In May 2010, he signed with the Melbourne Tigers for the 2010–11 NBL season.[4] He went on to finish runner-up for the 2011 Rookie of the Year award. Following the conclusion of the 2010–11 NBL season, he re-joined the Dandenong Rangers for the 2011 SEABL season.

In May 2011, Walker re-signed with the Melbourne Tigers on a two-year deal.[5] On December 31, 2012, Walker had a career-best game with 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in an 80–72 overtime win over the Wollongong Hawks.[6]

In March 2013, Walker signed with the Ballarat Miners for the 2013 SEABL season.[7] In 19 games for Ballarat, he averaged 14.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

In June 2013, Walker re-signed with the Tigers on a one-year deal.[8] In 2013–14, he had a career-best season with averages of 8.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.[9]

On 30 April 2014, Walker re-signed with the Tigers on a one-year deal.[10] In May 2014, the Tigers changed their name to United.

In April 2015, Walker returned to the Dandenong Rangers, joining the team just in time for Round 1 of the 2015 SEABL season.[11] On 23 June 2015, he signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2015–16 NBL season.[12][13]

In April 2016, Walker re-joined the Dandenong Rangers for the 2016 SEABL season. On 29 August 2016, Walker suited up for the Brisbane Bullets in their pre-season clash against the UCLA Bruins.[14]

On 12 September 2016, Walker signed with the Perth Wildcats as an injury replacement for Matthew Knight.[15][16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

On 6 April 2017, Walker signed with the Mackay Meteors for the 2017 Queensland Basketball League season.[19]

On 26 April 2017, Walker signed a full-time contract with the Perth Wildcats for the 2017–18 NBL season.[20] 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.[21]

On 23 April 2018, Walker signed with the Cairns Taipans for the 2018–19 NBL season.[22]

Personal

Walker is the son of Robert and Sharyn, and has a sister named Ashleigh.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Walker stars in Aussie victory
  2. ↑ Boom time for Tasmanian basketball talent Lucas Walker
  3. 1 2 3 4 "#12 Lucas Walker". smcgaels.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Tigers add three
  5. ↑ Tigers anger fans with recruiting circus
  6. ↑ Melbourne Tigers take down Wollongong Hawks in overtime
  7. ↑ BALLARAT SIGN MELBOURNE TIGERS STAR LUCAS WALKER Archived 16 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Melbourne re-signs Lucas Walker
  9. ↑ Player statistics for Lucas Walker
  10. ↑ Tomlinson and Walker returning to Tigers
  11. ↑ Big men give Rangers an imposing front court
  12. ↑ Walker signs for Adelaide 36ers
  13. ↑ NBL: Lucas Walker switches from Melbourne to Adelaide
  14. ↑ "BULLETS PREPARED FOR MILESTONE MOMENT". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "MATT KNIGHT TO MISS START OF SEASON". Wildcats.com.au. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "LUCAS WALKER JOINS WILDCATS". Wildcats.com.au. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "MATT KNIGHT TO RETURN FROM INJURY". Wildcats.com.au. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "CASEY PRATHER MAKES IT BACK-TO-BACK GORDON ELLIS MEDALS". Wildcats.com.au. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Meteors bring in NBL player to cover injured Harvey's spot". DailyMercury.com.au. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "LUCAS WALKER SIGNS WITH PERTH WILDCATS". Wildcats.com.au. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  21. ↑ "Wildcats too good for 36ers". Wildcats.com.au. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  22. ↑ "Taipans Begin Rebuild with Lucas Walker". NBL.com.au. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
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