Lonnie Walker, Jeff Dowtin Join Maccabi Tel Aviv From NBA

Lonnie Walker IV has officially signed a three-year contract with the Israeli EuroLeague club Maccabi Tel Aviv, marking his return to European basketball after a stint in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. Maccabi's general manager Claudio Coldebella emphasized that Walker's signing reflects the club's ambition to compete at the highest level and is part of a broader roster strategy aimed at improving the team's performance following a disappointing EuroLeague season. Walker, a 2018 NBA first-round pick, previously played for several NBA teams and had a successful rookie EuroLeague season with Zalgiris Kaunas, where he averaged 13.6 points per game and helped win the Lithuanian Cup. His contract reportedly pays him approximately $10 million over three years, making him one of the highest-paid American players in Europe. Meanwhile, Jeff Dowtin Jr., who was on a two-way contract with the Sixers, is also moving overseas to join Maccabi Tel Aviv, following Walker in leaving the NBA for opportunities abroad. Both moves highlight Maccabi's intent to bolster its roster with experienced NBA-tested talent.