Lucas Walker

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Lucas Walker

| image = Lucas Walker 5.jpg

| caption = Walker in March 2017

| position = Forward

| height_cm = 202

| weight_kg = 102

| league = NBL1 East

| team = Illawarra Hawks

| number =

| nationality = Australian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|12|6}}

| birth_place = Launceston, Tasmania

| high_school = Riverside (Launceston, Tasmania)
Launceston College
(Launceston, Tasmania)

| college = {{nowrap|Montana State–Billings (2004–2006)}}
Saint Mary's (2007–2009)

| draft_year = 2009

| career_start = 2002

| career_end =

| years1 = 2002

| team1 = Launceston Tigers

| years2 = 2003

| team2 = North-West Tasmania Thunder

| years3 = 2004

| team3 = Australian Institute of Sport

| years4 = 2010

| team4 = Dandenong Rangers

| years5 = 2010–2015

| team5 = Melbourne Tigers/United

| years6 = 2013

| team6 = Ballarat Miners

| years7 = 2015–2016

| team7 = Dandenong Rangers

| years8 = 2015–2016

| team8 = Adelaide 36ers

| years9 = 2016–2018

| team9 = Perth Wildcats

| years10 = 2017

| team10 = Mackay Meteors

| years11 = 2018

| team11 = Frankston Blues

| years12 = 2018–2019

| team12 = Cairns Taipans

| years13 = 2019

| team13 = Nunawading Spectres

| years14 = 2019–2020

| team14 = Sydney Kings

| years15 = 2022–present

| team15 = Illawarra Hawks

| highlights =

NBL1 champion (2019)
NBL champion (2017)
QBL All-League Team (2017)
{{nowrap|Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year (2005)}}

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}

}}

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

Born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania, Walker attended West Launceston Primary School, Riverside High School and Launceston College.[http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2320150/walker-stars-in-aussie-victory/ Walker stars in Aussie victory] 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,[https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1680569/lucas-walkers-game-improves-on-and-off-the-court/ Lucas Walker’s game improves on and off the court] before moving to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport and play for the program's SEABL team in 2004.[http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/boom-time-for-tasmanian-basketball-talent-lucas-walker/story-fnj4f7g3-1226942180349 Boom time for Tasmanian basketball talent Lucas Walker]

College career

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).{{cite web | url=http://www.smcgaels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1483272 | title=#12 Lucas Walker | work=smcgaels.com | accessdate=9 December 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213160213/http://www.smcgaels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1483272 | archive-date=13 December 2013}} As a sophomore in 2005–06, he averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games (17 starts).

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.

Professional career

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.[http://www.sportando.com/en/world/oceania/81337/tigers-add-three.html Tigers add three] 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.[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?client=0-189-159489-327335-21444812&sID=&action=PSTATS&pID=191752833 Player statistics for Lucas Walker] During this time, he played for the Ballarat Miners in the SEABL in 2013.[http://www.seabl.com.au/index.php?id=257&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6735&cHash=81f449391c BALLARAT SIGN MELBOURNE TIGERS STAR LUCAS WALKER] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316041539/http://www.seabl.com.au/index.php?id=257&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6735&cHash=81f449391c |date=16 March 2014 }} For the 2015 SEABL season, he returned to the Dandenong Rangers.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/sport/big-men-give-rangers-an-imposing-front-court/story-fnglemo4-1227294527925 Big men give Rangers an imposing front court]

For the 2015–16 NBL season, Walker played for the Adelaide 36ers.{{Cite web |url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9000466 |title=Walker signs for Adelaide 36ers |access-date=6 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728112804/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9000466 |archive-date=28 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3165739/former-miner-walker-signs-with-adelaide/ NBL: Lucas Walker switches from Melbourne to Adelaide] He returned for another season with Dandenong in 2016.

After having a pre-season stint with the Brisbane Bullets,{{cite web | url=http://www.brisbanebullets.com.au/bullets-prepared-milestone-moment/ | title=BULLETS PREPARED FOR MILESTONE MOMENT | work=BrisbaneBullets.com.au | date=29 August 2016 | accessdate=29 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829122207/http://www.brisbanebullets.com.au/bullets-prepared-milestone-moment/ | archive-date=29 August 2016 | url-status=dead }} Walker joined the Perth Wildcats in September 2016 as an injury replacement for Matthew Knight.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/matt-knight-miss-start-season/ | title=MATT KNIGHT TO MISS START OF SEASON | work=Wildcats.com.au | date=12 September 2016 | accessdate=12 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915134317/http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/matt-knight-miss-start-season/ | archive-date=15 September 2016 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/lucas-walker-joins-wildcats/ | title=LUCAS WALKER JOINS WILDCATS | work=Wildcats.com.au | date=12 September 2016 | accessdate=12 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923131844/http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/lucas-walker-joins-wildcats/ | archive-date=23 September 2016 | url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/matt-knight-return-injury/ | title=MATT KNIGHT TO RETURN FROM INJURY | work=Wildcats.com.au | date=20 October 2016 | accessdate=20 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020173620/http://www.wildcats.com.au/featured-news/matt-knight-return-injury/ | archive-date=20 October 2016 | url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/perth-wildcats/casey-prather-makes-back-back-gordon-ellis-medals/ | title=CASEY PRATHER MAKES IT BACK-TO-BACK GORDON ELLIS MEDALS | work=Wildcats.com.au | date=18 March 2017 | accessdate=19 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319090752/http://www.wildcats.com.au/perth-wildcats/casey-prather-makes-back-back-gordon-ellis-medals/ | archive-date=19 March 2017 | url-status=dead }} After playing in the Queensland Basketball League with the Mackay Meteors during the 2017 off-season,{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/meteors-bring-in-nbl-player-to-cover-injured-harve/3163835/ | title=Meteors bring in NBL player to cover injured Harvey's spot | work=DailyMercury.com.au | date=6 April 2017 | accessdate=13 April 2017}} Walker re-joined the Wildcats for the 2017–18 season as a full-time player.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/perth-wildcats/lucas-walker-signs-perth-wildcats/ | title=LUCAS WALKER SIGNS WITH PERTH WILDCATS | work=Wildcats.com.au | date=26 April 2017 | accessdate=26 April 2017}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/news/article/36151-wildcats-too-good-for-36ers | title=Wildcats too good for 36ers | work=Wildcats.com.au | date=8 December 2017 | accessdate=8 December 2017}}

After a short off-season stint with the Frankston Blues in the SEABL,[http://blues.fdba.com.au/2018/08/14/trist-and-richards-headline-senior-blues-award-winners/ TRIST AND RICHARDS HEADLINE SENIOR BLUES AWARD WINNERS] Walker joined the Cairns Taipans for the 2018–19 NBL season.{{cite web | url=http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/41619-taipans-re-tool-with-lucas-walker | title=Taipans Begin Rebuild with Lucas Walker | work=NBL.com.au | date=23 April 2018 | accessdate=23 April 2018}} Following the season, the Taipans cut ties with Walker.{{cite web | url=https://www.3x3hustle.com/news/eventful-off-season-leads-waxy-to-first-3x3-crack/ | title=Eventful Off-Season Leads 'Waxy' to First 3×3 Crack | work=3x3hustle.com | accessdate=24 March 2019}} In April 2019, Walker joined the Nunawading Spectres of the NBL1.{{cite web | url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/article/australian-boomer-lucas-walker-joins-nunawading | title=Australian Boomer Lucas Walker Joins Nunawading | work=NBL1.com.au | date=12 April 2019 | accessdate=12 April 2019}} In August 2019, he helped the Spectres win the NBL1 championship.{{cite web | url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/article/grand-final-nunawading-vs-bendigo | title=Grand Final - Nunawading vs Bendigo | work=NBL1.com.au | date=17 August 2019 | accessdate=17 August 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/NBL1/1315906/bs.html | title=Spectres vs Braves | work=FIBALiveStats.com | date=17 August 2019 | accessdate=17 August 2019}}

On 2 September 2019, Walker signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2019–20 NBL season.{{cite web | url=http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/sydney-finalise-roster-with-lucas-walker | title=Sydney Finalise Roster with Lucas Walker | work=NBL.com.au | date=2 September 2019 | accessdate=2 September 2019}}

Walker announced his retirement from the NBL on 1 February 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/TheNBL/posts/3898504926868034 | title=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 | work=facebook.com/TheNBL | date=1 February 2021 | accessdate=1 February 2021}}{{cite web | last=Hersz | first=Tom | url=https://nbl.com.au/news/waxy-calls-time-on-playing-career | title=Waxy Calls Time on Playing Career | work=NBL.com.au | date=17 February 2021 | accessdate=18 February 2021}}

In March 2022, Walker joined the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL1 East.{{cite news |title=Basketball Illawarra is very excited to announce that Former NBL Player, Lucas Walker, will be suiting up for our inaugural NBL1 season. |url=https://www.facebook.com/IllawarraBasketball/posts/4695095593924270 |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=facebook.com/IllawarraBasketball |date=18 March 2022}} He returned to the Hawks for the 2023 NBL1 East season.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawks.com.au/news/nbl1-east-illawarra-hawks-round-3-recap|title=NBL1 East Illawarra Hawks Round 3 Recap|work=hawks.com.au|date=27 March 2023|access-date=3 April 2023}}

National team career

Walker helped Australia win silver at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup{{cite web|url=https://australia.basketball/our-gold-silver-gangurrus/|title=Our Gold & Silver Gangurrus|work=australia.basketball|date=3 April 2023|access-date=3 April 2023}} and then competed at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/3x3-world-cup-tips-off-for-australia|title=3x3 World Cup Tips Off for Australia|work=NBL.com.au|date=30 May 2023|access-date=3 June 2023}}

Personal life

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

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20131213160213/http://www.smcgaels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1483272 Saint Mary's bio]
[https://archive.today/20140210095614/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1cz5za8k0kals13c1y2bmafa3a Take 40: Lucas Walker]

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Adelaide 36ers players

Category:Australian men's basketball players

Category:Australian expatriate basketball people in the United States

Category:Basketball players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Category:Cairns Taipans players

Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in basketball

Category:Forwards (basketball)

Category:Melbourne Tigers players

Category:Melbourne United players