Growing signs: Maccabi Tel Aviv could part ways with Lonnie Walker at season's end

Double Dribble, Season 1, Episode 54 / Walla Sports

Lonnie Walker was left out of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s roster for the second game of the playoff semifinal series against Hapoel Holon tonight (Wednesday, 8:50 p.m.). The decision came two days after Walker stayed at home during the first game of the series between the teams, even though the club had listed him for the game, after he posted on social media criticizing the decision to play the game and demanding that it be postponed.

Over the past two days, people around the club said the situation with Walker is sensitive. On the one hand, the club has great respect for him and values him both professionally and as a good teammate. On the other hand, the feeling is that once Jimmy Clark fully returns from injury, he is expected to take Walker’s place. Tonight, mainly because of the situation with him over the past two days, Maccabi decided to dress David Afianni, with the feeling that Walker is not fully ready to play mentally.

“There is an issue here, that’s clear,” people around the club said. “Our most expensive player is fit, and is not in a state where he can contribute to the team.” Maccabi are not expected to release Walker before the end of the season, but the assessment is that if, until a few weeks ago, the chance that he would leave the team at the end of the season seemed low because of his desire to stay with Maccabi, recent events have changed the situation completely. Increasingly, there is an assessment and a growing likelihood that Maccabi will part ways with Walker in the summer by mutual agreement. As a reminder, Walker has a binding contract for next season.

Lonnie Walker, Maccabi Tel Aviv player against Hapoel Be'er Sheva / Udi Citiat

This season, Walker has averaged 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 28 EuroLeague games. In the Israeli league, he averaged 15.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 13 games.

Meanwhile, the club continues to increase pressure on Iffe Lundberg and his representatives to reach understandings on a new contract. Sources close to the club and the player said the gaps are not large, and there is optimism that they can be bridged in the near future.