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Lonnie Walker IV Eyeing to Improve Passing in Wake of Scoring Tear for Brooklyn

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Nets
By Peter Sunjic | Last updated 11/21/23

With Cam Thomas still unavailable to play, the Brooklyn Nets have assigned one of their heavy scoring loads to Lonnie Walker IV. Thomas’ two weeks of recovery from his sprained ankle opened up the window for the high-scoring guard to go for more buckets, as he is now averaging 16.6 points in 12 games of play, with all coming off the bench.

While Walker continues to savor his increased opportunities in scoring, he feels that he also has to improve another department in his arsenal. While he managed to notch a team-high 26 points, the Nets still succumbed to a painful 121-99 defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

This recent loss they absorbed from the Sixers opened the eyes of the 24-year-old that his passing skills must also be enhanced well.

More room to create

Despite receiving recognition for leading the Nets off the bench in their loss to Philadelphia, Walker humbly acknowledged that he could have made a greater impact for his team by distributing the ball more and avoiding forcing shots.

In the post-game of their weekend loss, Nets guard recognized the fact that as a scorer, he can create plenty of chances for his teammates as well. Provided that he is able to draw defenders and trick them out via an improved passing.

"I think I need to start adding more of just the playmaking aspect,” he said. “I had a couple of bad shots where I could’ve dropped it off to Nic [Claxton] or thrown corner passes and whatnot. So I think just broadening that aspect of playmaking rather than just trying to score first and understanding that they’re gonna be playing me a lot harder and my teammates are gonna be open.”

Humble admission as a scorer

The University of Miami product's admission that he can still help his teammates score is truly commendable. While he is truly a young, talented offensive guard who can grab points in a possession, there will still be instances wherein he needs to dish the ball and create more looks for the team's success.

As of writing, Walker is averaging 2 assists per game for the Nets; his career average stands at 1.5. With this newest plan that he is about to adopt, the sky's the only limit for him to maximize his passing opportunities well for the greater good of Brooklyn from the collective standpoint.

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Nets and was syndicated with permission.

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