Nuggets sign ex-Spurs 1st round pick to $3.3 million contract

The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with free-agent guard Lonnie Walker IV, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The signing gives the Nuggets additional backcourt depth after the offseason departures of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Pickett.

Walker, 27, returns to the NBA after spending last season with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. The former No. 18 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs signed a two-year contract with the Israeli club but included an NBA exit clause that allowed him to return to the league.

During his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Walker appeared in 45 games and averaged 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 40% from three-point range. In EuroLeague competition, he recorded 15.2 points per game with shooting splits of .394 from the field, .351 from beyond the arc, and .758 from the free-throw line.

Walker last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 20 games, he finished with a career-best 12.4 points along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 42% from the field and 35.4% from three-point range.

Across the past five NBA seasons, Walker has averaged 11.3 points in 22.4 minutes per game while converting 35.2% of his three-point attempts.

Denver entered the offseason with only four players on standard contracts in its backcourt and had two open roster spots before agreeing to terms with Walker. One of those openings is still expected to remain available for restricted free agent Peyton Watson.

Walker is expected to occupy the Nuggets 14th roster spot. The move also likely ends Bruce Brown’s chances of returning to Denver as the organization continues working through Watson’s restricted free agency situation. Walker also becomes another EuroLeague addition for the Nuggets this offseason, joining Alpha Diallo.

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