Tyson Walker
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Tyson Walker
| image = Tyson Walker.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Walker with Michigan State in 2022
| position = Point guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 185
| league = NBA G League
| team = Texas Legends
| number = 14
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|18}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| high_school =
| college =
- Northeastern (2019–2021)
- Michigan State (2021–2024)
| draft_year = 2024
| career_start = 2024
| years1 = 2024–present
| team1 = Texas Legends
| highlights =
- 2× Second-team All-Big Ten (2023, 2024)
- First-team All-CAA (2021)
- CAA Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
- CAA All-Rookie Team (2020)
}}
Tyson Walker (born September 18, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
High school career
Walker played basketball for Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, New York.{{cite web |last1=Beach |first1=Jerry |title=Northeastern's Tyson Walker Runs The Point With 'Presence, Personality' |url=https://www.flohoops.com/articles/6598476-northeasterns-tyson-walker-runs-the-point-with-presence-personality |website=FloHoops |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=November 15, 2019}} As a senior, he led his team to a 22–5 record.{{cite web |last1=Dee |first1=Spencer |title=Walker impresses early as NU’s newest point guard |url=https://huntnewsnu.com/61358/sports/walker-impresses-early-as-nus-newest-point-guard/ |website=The Huntington News |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=January 23, 2020}} Walker played a postgraduate season at New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire.{{cite web |last1=Tait |first1=Matt |title=Jayhawks in the mix for Northeastern point guard Tyson Walker |url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/mar/24/jayhawks-mix-northeastern-point-guard-tyson-walker/ |website=KUsports |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=March 24, 2021}} He was considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.{{cite web |last1=Solari |first1=Chris |title=Tom Izzo: Michigan State basketball lands 'crafty' point guard in transfer Tyson Walker |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2021/04/07/michigan-state-basketball-tyson-walker-tom-izzo-transfer/7128352002/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=April 7, 2021}}
College career
=Northeastern=
In his freshman season at Northeastern, Walker shared the backcourt with Jordan Roland.{{cite web |last1=Thomsen |first1=Ian |title=Fifth-year senior Jordan Roland and freshman Tyson Walker are the odd couple of Northeastern University basketball |url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/11/28/fifth-year-senior-jordan-roland-and-freshman-tyson-walker-are-the-odd-couple-of-northeastern-university-basketball/ |publisher=Northeastern University |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=November 28, 2019}} On January 2, 2020, he scored a season-high 32 points in a 77–68 win over Elon.{{cite web |title=Northeastern freshman burns Phoenix with big effort |url=https://www.thetimesnews.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2020/01/03/northeastern-freshman-burns-phoenix-with-big-effort/112357840/ |website=Times-News |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=January 3, 2020}} As a freshman, Walker averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game, earning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Rookie Team honors. He was named CAA Rookie of the Week four times.{{cite web |last1=Galle |first1=Nick |title=Interview with Northeastern Men’s Basketball Guard Tyson Walker |url=https://edgesportsnetwork.com/2020/07/16/interview-with-northeastern-mens-basketball-guard-tyson-walker/ |website=Edge Sports Network |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=July 16, 2020}} On February 13, 2021, Walker scored a sophomore season-high 36 points in a 76–67 win over Towson.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Eamonn |title=Tyson Walker scores career-high 36 points, Huskies beat Towson 76–67 |url=https://huntnewsnu.com/65182/sports/mens-basketball/tyson-walker-scores-career-high-36-points-huskies-beat-towson-76-67/ |website=The Huntington News |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=February 13, 2021}} He averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game as a sophomore, earning First Team All-CAA and Defensive Player of the Year recognition.{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Tyson Walker ready for next challenge after transfer to Michigan State |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/06/tyson-walker-ready-for-next-challenge-after-transfer-to-michigan-state.html |website=MLive |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=June 4, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Moberg |first1=McLain |title=MSU Basketball: Tyson Walker Anticipates 'Smooth' Transition to Power 5 Competition |url=https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/basketball/msu-basketball-tyson-walker-anticipates-smooth-transition-to-power-5-competition |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=June 6, 2021}} Walker led the CAA in scoring during conference play and in steals.{{cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Brendan |title=Info and intel on Tyson Walker, Michigan State’s PG score from the transfer portal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2479634/2021/03/27/info-and-intel-on-tyson-walker-michigan-states-pg-score-from-the-transfer-portal/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=March 27, 2021}} After his sophomore season, Walker transferred to Michigan State.{{cite web |last1=Pouncy |first1=Colton |title=Michigan State was an easy choice for Tyson Walker: ‘Once I got the call, my mind was made up after that’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2631988/2021/06/03/michigan-state-was-an-easy-choice-for-tyson-walker-once-i-got-the-call-my-mind-was-made-up-after-that/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=June 3, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Charboneau |first1=Matt |title=Transfer guard Tyson Walker eager to prove himself on bigger stage at Michigan State |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2021/06/03/transfer-guard-tyson-walker-eager-prove-himself-bigger-stage-michigan-state/7523718002/ |website=The Detroit News |access-date=July 10, 2021 |date=June 3, 2021}} He chose the Spartans over Maryland, Kansas, Texas, Miami (Florida) and Vanderbilt.
=Michigan State=
During his junior season, Walker split time at point guard with A. J. Hoggard, though Walker was the better shooter of the two.{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Michigan State getting by with ‘two-headed monster’ at point guard |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2022/02/michigan-state-getting-by-with-two-headed-monster-at-point-guard.html |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=MLive.com |date=February 3, 2022}} On December 8, 2021, he scored 15 points and had five rebounds and three assists in a 76–67 win against Minnesota.{{cite news |last1=Charboneau |first1=Matt |title=Tyson Walker delivering on promise as Spartans start Big Ten play strong |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2021/12/09/tyson-walker-delivering-promise-spartans-start-big-ten-play-strong/6446248001/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=The Detroit News |date=December 9, 2021}} On February 26, 2022 against Purdue, he hit a go-ahead three pointer with 1.4 seconds left to give Michigan State a 68–65 lead. They would end up holding on and winning the game. Walker averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 47.3 percent from three-point range.{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Offseason evaluation: Tyson Walker shot his way to solid debut season at Michigan State |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2022/05/offseason-evaluation-tyson-walker-shot-his-way-to-solid-debut-season-at-michigan-state.html |access-date=February 19, 2023 |work=MLive.com |date=May 6, 2022}} As a senior, Walker averaged 14.8 points and 2.8 assists per game, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors.{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Michigan State’s Tyson Walker earns second-team All-Big Ten honors |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2023/03/michigan-states-tyson-walker-earns-second-team-all-big-ten-honors.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |work=MLive.com |date=March 7, 2023}} He opted to return for his fifth season of eligibility.{{cite news |last1=Solari |first1=Chris |title=Michigan State basketball's Tyson Walker returning for one more season |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2023/04/10/michigan-state-basketball-tyson-walker-returning-final-season/70099752007/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=April 10, 2023}} On March 8, 2024, Walker hit the 2,000-point milestone in a 53–49 win over Northwestern.{{cite web| last = Lounsberry | first = Matthew | url = https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/basketball/michigan-state-spartans-basketball-tyson-walker-reaches-2000-career-points-in-college-030724 | title = Michigan State's Tyson Walker Reaches 2,000 Career Points | date = March 7, 2024| website = si.com| publisher = Sports Illustrated | access-date = March 8, 2024| quote =}} He averaged 18.4 points, 2.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors.{{cite web |last1=Champion |first1=Aidan |title=Former Michigan State Guard Making a Case for Spot on NBA Roster |url=https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/basketball/former-michigan-state-guard-making-a-case-for-spot-on-nba-roster-01j33e53j2bz |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 4, 2025 |date=July 18, 2024}}
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Walker joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2024 NBA Summer League{{cite web|first=Donnie|last=Druin|title=First Look: Suns' Summer League Roster, Schedule|url=https://www.si.com/nba/suns/news/first-look-phoenix-suns-summer-league-roster-schedule|website=SI.com|date=July 8, 2024|access-date=October 26, 2024}} and on October 26, 2024, he joined the Texas Legends of the NBA G League after being selected in the G League draft.{{cite web|title=Westchester Knicks Select Matt Ryan With First Pick In 2024 NBA G League Draft|url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/westchester-knicks-select-matt-ryan-with-first-pick-in-2024-nba-g-league-draft|website=NBA.com|date=October 26, 2024|access-date=October 26, 2024}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Northeastern
|| 31 || 29 || 30.4 || .448 || .350 || .656 || 2.0 || 3.3 || 1.8 || 0.2 || 10.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Northeastern
| 19 || 19 || 34.8 || .444 || .354 || .772 || 2.9 || 4.8 || 2.4 || 0.1 || 18.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| Michigan State
| 36 || 28 || 22.6 || .427 || .473 || .810 || 1.3 || 4.3 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 8.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| style="text-align:left;"| Michigan State
|34||34||33.9||.459||.415||.797||2.5||2.9||1.1||0.2||14.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24
| style="text-align:left;"| Michigan State
|34||34||33.0||.449||.376||.746||2.9||2.8||1.9||0.1||18.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 154 || 144 || 30.5|| .447 || .389|| .756|| 2.3|| 3.5 || 1.5 || 0.1 || 13.7
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://msuspartans.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tyson-walker/11553 Michigan State Spartans bio]
- [https://nuhuskies.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tyson-walker/6486 Northeastern Huskies bio]
{{Texas Legends current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Tyson}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Nassau County, New York
Category:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball players
Category:Northeastern Huskies men's basketball players