Maccabi Tel Aviv Parts Ways With Loni Walker as He Returns to NBA with Denver Nuggets

Maccabi Tel Aviv officially announced on August 6, 2026, that guard Loni Walker is leaving the team to return to the NBA, signing with the Denver Nuggets. Walker, who was expected to be a key player for Maccabi, held an NBA exit clause in his contract valued at $2.2 million net, which expired three weeks ago but was extended by the club to allow him to continue seeking an NBA team. He will leave without financial compensation but with a waiver of his Israeli contract as he heads back to the world’s top basketball league after a year in Europe.

Maccabi expressed gratitude for Walker’s dedication, professionalism, and fairness, wishing him success in his next step. The club had anticipated his departure and has already signed Kiton Wallace, a guard from the Atlanta Hawks, to replace him. Wallace, who stands 1.90 meters tall and can play both point guard and shooting guard positions, signed a two-year deal with Maccabi and will join the backcourt alongside Yam Madar, Aipo Lundberg, and Jimmy Clark.

Walker was the 18th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He notably stood out during the 2023 NBA playoffs with clutch performances. Before joining Maccabi last summer on a three-year contract with an annual NBA opt-out, he played for Žalgiris Kaunas and had several stints in the NBA. Wallace began his career at the University of Texas at San Antonio, went undrafted in 2021, and played in the NBA G League before joining the Atlanta Hawks. In the 2024/25 and 2025/26 NBA seasons, he averaged between 3.5 and 5.4 points per game with solid defensive skills and playmaking abilities.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is preparing for the upcoming season with this roster change as Walker embarks on his renewed NBA journey.