NICKNAME/S: Waxy

BIO: Born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania, Walker attended West Launceston Primary School, Riverside High School and Launceston College. Walker received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2004. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

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

NBL EXPERIENCE

Lucas Walker made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 25 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.

The 2010/11 season saw the Tigers finish with their worst record since 1987. This marked the first time Melbourne had taken the court without either Andrew Gaze or Chris Anstey on the roster, ushering in a clear rebuild for the franchise.

The team had undergone a significant roster overhaul following the exits of Julius Hodge, Mark Worthington (to Gold Coast), Luke Kendall (to Gold Coast), Daniel Johnson (to Adelaide), and the retirements of Anstey and Sam MacKinnon. Head coach Al Westover looked to rebuild the lineup by bringing in import guards Eric Devendorf and TJ Campbell, while constructing an oversized frontcourt that featured Cameron Tragardh (via Wollongong), Luke Nevill, Wade Helliwell, and Matt Burston (via Perth). However, the roster’s lack of balance quickly became apparent, and the Tigers struggled to generate consistent performances.

Among the new additions, rookie forward Lucas Walker averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds while delivering solid contributions off the bench. Known for his athleticism and energy, Walker injected pace into Melbourne’s transition play and provided physicality on the glass. As the team endured instability throughout the season, Walker remained a steady contributor and gained valuable experience in his debut professional campaign.

Melbourne’s campaign began with a heavy 68–84 defeat to Sydney and spiralled further as the team opened with four straight losses. TJ Campbell (11.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) was cut early in the season, replaced by reigning NBL MVP Corey Williams (17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.1 assists), who had initially committed to play in Greece. Williams joined Devendorf (14.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) to form a high-scoring backcourt that still couldn’t lift the team from the bottom of the standings.

Midway through the season, tensions escalated when owner Seamus McPeake reportedly stormed into the locker room and threatened to withhold player salaries due to poor performances. The club responded with only six wins from their next 14 games. Devendorf was released as part of cost-cutting measures, followed shortly by Westover’s dismissal. Assistant coach Darryl McDonald stepped in as interim head coach.

Following Luke Nevill’s departure late in the season to join BC Triumph Lyubertsy in Russia, Cameron Tragardh and Matt Burston (8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds) were tasked with heavier frontcourt responsibilities. Tragardh also became a key contributor, and Daryl Corletto (10.1 points, and 1.7 rebounds) delivered consistent perimeter shooting while taking on a larger role in the guard rotation.

Despite the efforts of Williams, Tragardh, Burston, Corletto, and promising signs from Walker, the Tigers failed to generate sustained momentum. Wins over Sydney, Adelaide, and Gold Coast offered momentary reprieve, but Melbourne ultimately finished seventh with a 10–18 record, the most losses the club had suffered in a single season since entering the NBL.

2011/12
During the 2011/12 NBL season, the Melbourne Tigers benefited from an NBA lockout, signing NBA free agent and Australian Boomers guard Patrick Mills, marking the first time an active NBA player joined the NBL.

Mills’ signing came late, as the Tigers had already filled their roster, including adding Ayinde Ubaka, Ron Dorsey, and Daniel Dillon from the Cairns Taipans, resulting in significant changes to Cairns’ lineup. To make room for Mills, the Tigers released long-time guard Daryl Corletto, who subsequently signed with the New Zealand Breakers.

In his nine-game stint with Melbourne, Mills averaged 19 points and 5 assists before departing to play in China. After Mills’ exit, Myron Allen was brought in as a replacement, but the team struggled to maintain a consistent performance, finishing the season in sixth place with an 11-17 record.

In his second year in the league, Lucas Walker averaged 5.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, contributing to the team’s efforts, although the Tigers ultimately failed to reach the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Tommy Greer took on the role of team captain, while Cam Tragardh led the Tigers in scoring with an average of 16.3 points per game, earning the club’s MVP honours for the season.

2012/13
In the 2012/13 season, Lucas Walker contributed an average of 7.5 points and 5.1 rebounds, helping the Melbourne Tigers to a regular-season record of 12-16, which tied them with the Sydney Kings for fourth place. According to the NBL’s tiebreaker system, based on head-to-head results and points percentage, the Kings edged out the Tigers with a slight +2 points percentage margin. This tie-breaker ultimately dropped Melbourne to fifth place, causing them to narrowly miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

2013/14
In the 2013/14 season, Walker posted improved averages of 8.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. His efforts were instrumental in helping the Tigers secure a third-place finish with a 15-13 record. Melbourne’s season ended in the semifinals, where they fell to Adelaide in a hard-fought series (1–2). Walker’s performance highlighted his growing presence as a key contributor for the Tigers.

2014/15 – TIGERS BECOME UNITED
On 20 May 2014, the Melbourne Tigers were rebranded as Melbourne United. This shift was aimed at moving away from the Tigers’ long association with a junior program that had drawn criticism within the Victorian basketball community for being perceived as overly dominant and poaching young talent from other programs. The new name, intended to symbolize a connection with the entire Victorian basketball community, was introduced under the ownership of Larry Kestelman.

Head coach Chris Anstey was retained, along with Tigers legend Daryl Corletto, who returned after three years with the New Zealand Breakers. Melbourne also brought in Australian Boomers’ David Barlow, who had been playing in Europe, and signed veteran Daniel Kickert, as long-time captain Tommy Greer retired. The team’s core from the Tigers, including Lucas Walker, Mark Worthington, and Nate Tomlinson, were chosen to share captaincy responsibilities this season. United also added import players Jordan McRae and Stephen Dennis to round out the roster.

The last-minute release of Adam Ballinger, who had signed a two-year deal the previous season, added some drama to the lineup changes. With other NBL teams having completed their rosters, Ballinger found himself in a difficult position but was later signed by Illawarra, where he completed the season with the Hawks.

United’s first season under the new banner began with a challenging loss to Cairns (89–61), which led to Chris Anstey’s resignation and the promotion of assistant coach Darryl McDonald to head coach. Walker finished the season averaging 5.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists as United closed the season in fifth place (13–15), narrowly missing out on a playoff spot.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2015/16
In the 2015/16 season, Lucas Walker joined the Adelaide 36ers as a free agent. He quickly established himself as a regular starter, starting in 24 of the team’s 28 games. Over the season, Walker averaged 5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, providing solid rebounding and energy in the frontcourt. The 36ers concluded the season in fifth place with a balanced 14-14 record, narrowly missing out on a playoff berth.

PERTH WILDCATS
2016/17
With Adelaide opting to replace Lucas Walker with a third import (Eric Jacobsen), Walker began the pre-season trialing with the Brisbane Bullets. After missing out on a contract, he returned to Melbourne, training with Melbourne United while waiting for an NBL opportunity. A week later, the Perth Wildcats offered him a two-month injury replacement deal to cover for star rebounder Matthew Knight, who suffered a shoulder injury late in the pre-season.

Lucas Walker trained with his new teammates for the first time this morning. pic.twitter.com/p8JjsetckU— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) September 12, 2016

The Wildcats’ 2016 off-season featured major changes, with three players from the 2016 championship team—Nathan Jawai, Tom Jervis, and Jermaine Beal—moving on. Head coach Trevor Gleeson brought in replacements Angus Brandt, Jameel McKay, and Jaron Johnson to pursue back-to-back championships, which the club hadn’t achieved since 1991.

After joining Perth, Walker saw the Wildcats start the season strong with a 4–1 record. But after a knock to the head in an early game, Damian Martin was sidelined with a jaw fracture. He returned briefly before sustaining a grade three MCL tear in his left knee against Adelaide (5 Nov 2016), ruling him out for up to 12 weeks.

The Wildcats’ form nosedived, and by December, they sat at the bottom of the ladder (7–9), with Martin, Knight, and Jarrod Kenny all on the injured list. During this stretch, Jaron Johnson bore much of the blame for the Wildcats’ performance, leading to his release and replacement with sharpshooter Andre Ingram. In a dramatic twist, Ingram left the team after two games due to mental health concerns, prompting the Wildcats to bring Johnson back temporarily. Shortly afterward, Shawn Redhage announced his retirement, adding another layer of transition to the roster.

After Knight was cleared to play, Walker was removed from the active 11-man playing roster on 20 October 2016 but remained an integral part of the team. Despite being sidelined, he attended every training session, contributed to team morale, and engaged in extensive community outreach, becoming a valued member of the Wildcats’ organisation.

In December, former NBA guard Bryce Cotton joined the Wildcats, replacing Jaron Johnson, while Casey Prather continued his offensive dominance, highlighted by a career-high 39 points in a 92–89 win over Melbourne. Prather maintained his strong form, including a 29-point game against Sydney and a 26-point, 11-assist outing against Melbourne in early February. With Cotton’s arrival and Damian Martin’s return in January, the Wildcats rallied, winning eight of their final twelve games to finish third with a 15–13 record. Bench players, including Walker, also contributed during crucial games to secure a playoff spot.

The Wildcats then defeated Cairns in the semifinals and swept Illawarra 3–0 in the Grand Final series, clinching their second straight championship. Prather earned All-NBL First Team honours and was runner-up in MVP voting, while Cotton’s 45-point game in the Grand Final’s deciding game set a record. His series average of 27.7 points was the highest in two decades, and head coach Trevor Gleeson became the first Wildcats coach to lead the team to consecutive titles since 1991.

Although Walker didn’t return to the court, he was celebrated as an invaluable team member and was awarded the Coaches’ Award at the Wildcats’ MVP Ball. His efforts off the court and dedication to training kept him close to the team’s success.

Redhage also retired as one of the Wildcats’ all-time greats, finishing his career with 393 NBL games (380 with the Wildcats) and recording 5,819 points and 2,153 rebounds.

2017/18
The Wildcats re-signed Grand Final MVP Bryce Cotton for the 2017/18 season but lost two-time club MVP Casey Prather, who pursued NBA opportunities before signing with Melbourne United. Perth initially replaced Prather with Devondrick Walker, but after he suffered a pre-season foot injury, he was replaced by JP Tokoto before playing a regular season game. Derek Cooke Jr. also joined the roster, taking the place of the outgoing Jameel McKay, and Lucas Walker moved from a training role to a full-time roster spot in place of the retired Shawn Redhage.

Walker delivered one of his best NBL seasons, averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. On 8 December 2017, he recorded 12 points and 16 rebounds (including a league-record 12 offensive rebounds in the 40-minute era) in an 88–79 win over Adelaide.

Amidst early-season head injuries, Matthew Knight announced he would retire at season’s end but eventually retired in November following a series of concussions. Perth started strong with a 10–3 record but dropped to 13–9 by mid-January due to injuries. They finished third with a 16–12 record.

Ahead of the finals, Damian Martin earned his sixth Best Defensive Player award, and Cotton claimed MVP honours, becoming only the third Wildcat to win the award after Paul Rogers (2000) and Kevin Lisch (2012). Cotton also earned All-NBL First Team selection, and Tokoto was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

In the semifinals, second-seeded Adelaide handed the Wildcats one of their heaviest postseason defeats (109–74) in Game 1. Perth fought back in Game 2 but fell short by one point (88–89), ending their season.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2018/19
Coming off an 11-17 season which saw Cairns finish sixth, the Taipans moved in a new direction when long-time coach Aaron Fearne departed after eight seasons and Mike Kelly was appointed as his replacement. The rebuild included the departures of Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand) and Stephen Weigh (retired).

After winning a gold medal with the Boomers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Lucas Walker (via Perth) became the first new player signed by Kelly on April 24. Walker had revitalised his career during two seasons with Perth and Kelly said when considering different combinations for his new roster, “Lucas Walker’s name just kept popping up.” Kelly later added Rob Loe (via New Zealand), Jarrod Kenny (via Perth), Dexter Kernich-Drew (via Perth), Mitch Young (via Brisbane) and imports Melo Trimble, Devon Hall and DJ Newbill (via New Zealand), while Nathan Jawai, Alex Loughton and Kuany Kuany returned.

Walker entered the season having worked his way back from a knee injury suffered while playing for Frankston during the off-season and remained sidelined during the pre-season. He did not play in Cairns’ opening victory against Brisbane and made his Taipans debut against Illawarra on October 21, where Walker (2 points) played just over three minutes as the Hawks won 104-93, despite Trimble (28 points, 5 assists, and 1 steal) and Newbill (22 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal), while Todd Blanchfield (32 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) led Illawarra. Walker played again five days later before missing the October 28 game against Sydney, with no separate injury or reason for that second absence publicly confirmed.

Walker (6.1 points and 4 rebounds across 26 games) eventually established himself in the rotation and started 13 games, but Cairns struggled badly after its opening victory and lost 14 consecutive games.

One of Walker’s strongest early performances came in Adelaide on November 23, where Walker (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) provided an impact from the bench as Cairns lost 109-95. Trimble (23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) and Hall (17 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Taipans, while Jacob Wiley (30 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) was Adelaide’s best.

On December 31, Walker (12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) started against his former team and was one of six Taipans to score in double figures, but Perth defeated Cairns 93-78. Trimble (14 points and 4 assists) and Newbill (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Cairns, while Terrico White (22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) starred for Perth.

Cairns finally broke through on January 3, where Walker (5 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) helped the Taipans end their 14-game losing streak and collect their first home win of the season with a 109-80 victory over Brisbane. Hall (24 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and Jawai (18 points and 4 assists) led Cairns, while Lamar Patterson (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Brisbane’s best.

Eight days later, Walker (6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) started and played more than 26 minutes as Cairns produced one of its biggest upsets of the season, defeating Perth 81-79 at RAC Arena. Trimble (32 points and 7 rebounds) and Jawai (14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led the Taipans, while Bryce Cotton (20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) was Perth’s leading scorer.

Walker’s best game of the season came against New Zealand on January 24, where Walker (16 points and 9 rebounds) made five of his 10 shots and six of eight free throws. Newbill (32 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Trimble (31 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) also produced big games, but Shawn Long (32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks) led the Breakers to a 113-106 victory.

Trimble (22.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 28 games) led Cairns offensively and was named to the All-NBL Second Team as well as winning the Taipans’ club MVP award. Newbill (14.3 points, 4 rebounds across 27 games), Jawai (10 points and 5.2 rebounds across 27 games), Hall (8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds across 28 games), Loe (7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds across 28 games) and Loughton (6.5 points and 3 rebounds across 25 games) were the team’s other major contributors.

Cairns closed the season against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 16, where Walker (6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal) made both of his three-point attempts in 12 minutes off the bench. Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Loughton (17 points and 3 rebounds) led Cairns, while Andrew Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) controlled the paint as Sydney won 89-84, leaving the Taipans last with a 6-22 record.

SYDNEY KINGS
2019/20
After finishing third with an 18-10 record before being swept by Melbourne in the semifinals, Sydney moved on from coach Andrew Gaze and appointed Australian Boomers assistant Will Weaver. Kevin Lisch was re-signed to a multi-year contract and Craig Moller (via Melbourne) returned on a two-year deal, while Jerome Randle (to Adelaide) and David Wear (not re-signed) departed and were replaced by Casper Ware (via Melbourne) and Jae’Sean Tate (via Antwerp). Shaun Bruce (via Adelaide), rookie Jordan Hunter (via Saint Mary’s) and Next Star Didi Louzada were also added.

After Cairns informed Walker he would not be re-signed following the 2018/19 season, he spent the winter with Nunawading and helped the Spectres win the inaugural NBL1 championship. Sydney signed Walker (via Cairns) on September 2 to finalise its roster for the 2019/20 season, adding an experienced forward who provided Weaver with further frontcourt depth and a versatile defensive option.

Walker made his Kings debut in Cairns on October 4, finishing with 1 point and 3 rebounds in four minutes as Sydney defeated the Taipans 79-71. Ware (23 points and 5 assists) and Lisch (18 points) led Sydney, while Kouat Noi (14 points and 12 rebounds) was Cairns’ best.

Walker (1.8 points across 24 games) was used primarily at the end of Weaver’s rotation, playing 21 regular-season games and three postseason games while averaging 5.6 minutes per appearance. No injury-related absence was identified during his season with Sydney, with his playing time instead dependent on Weaver’s rotation behind the Kings’ established frontcourt.

Walker’s best regular-season scoring game came against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on October 12, where Walker (7 points and 4 rebounds) shot 3-of-5 from the field in 12 minutes as Sydney defeated the 36ers 102-80. Newley (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kickert (16 points) led Sydney’s balanced offence, while Daniel Johnson (26 points and 7 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.

Sydney strengthened its frontcourt further on November 27 by signing Cooks (6.7 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 20 games) (via Strasbourg), with Kuany Kuany (released) waived to create the roster spot. Ware (17.9 points and 3.7 assists across 34 games) led Sydney in scoring, while Tate (16.8 points and 5.9 rebounds across 34 games) was named to the All-NBL First Team and won the Kings’ club MVP. Newley (11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds across 34 games), Louzada (9.8 points and 3.5 rebounds across 26 games), Bogut (8.5 points and 8.8 rebounds across 31 games), Kickert (7.9 points across 34 games), Bruce (7.1 points and 3 assists across 34 games) and Deshon Taylor (6.6 points across 22 games) provided Weaver with one of the league’s deepest rotations, with Ware and Bogut named to the All-NBL Second Team. Sydney finished first with a 20-8 record.

Walker did not play in game one of Sydney’s semifinal series against Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena, where the Kings recovered from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 86-80. Tate (23 points and 5 rebounds), Newley (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Cooks (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Sydney, while Melo Trimble (34 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Shawn Long (23 points and 10 rebounds) were Melbourne’s best.

Walker’s best game of the season came in game two at Melbourne Arena, where Walker (10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) came off the bench and made all four of his field-goal attempts, including both three-pointers, in 11 minutes. Tate (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Louzada (10 points and 3 steals) were Sydney’s other leading performers, but Long (26 points and 11 rebounds), Trimble (21 points) and Stanton Kidd (18 points and 4 rebounds) powered Melbourne to a 125-80 victory and forced a deciding game three.

Walker did not play in game three at Qudos Bank Arena, where Sydney defeated Melbourne 89-87 and advanced to its first Grand Final since 2008. Tate (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block), Ware (15 points and 4 rebounds) and Cooks (14 points and 9 rebounds) led Sydney, while Chris Goulding (19 points) and Mitch McCarron (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Melbourne.

Walker did not play in game one of the Grand Final against defending champion Perth at Qudos Bank Arena, where the Wildcats escaped with an 88-86 victory. Bogut (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Lisch (17 points) led Sydney, while Bryce Cotton (32 points and 6 rebounds) and Nick Kay (14 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth.

With the remainder of the series closed to the general public because of the growing COVID-19 outbreak, game two moved to RAC Arena on March 13, where Walker (0 points) played the final 73 seconds as Sydney responded with a 97-83 victory. Tate (20 points), Bogut (19 points and 14 rebounds) and Lisch (19 points) led Sydney, while Cotton (27 points and 5 rebounds) and Kay (17 points and 7 rebounds) were Perth’s best as the Kings levelled the series 1-1.

Game three returned to Qudos Bank Arena on March 15, where Walker (0 points) played the final 36 seconds as Perth defeated Sydney 111-96 and moved ahead 2-1 in the series. Tate (20 points and 6 rebounds), Newley (19 points and 5 rebounds) and Lisch (16 points) led Sydney, while Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) combined for 61 points for Perth.

Prior to game four, Sydney withdrew from the series amid the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and concerns surrounding player welfare, travel restrictions and international players being able to return home. The remaining games were cancelled and Perth was subsequently awarded the championship with its 2-1 series lead, while Cotton was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across the three games.

The season proved to be Walker’s final NBL campaign. On February 1, 2021, he announced his retirement from the league after 10 seasons and 240 games across Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns and Sydney.

Lucas Walker played ten seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Melbourne Tigers, Melbourne United, Cairns Taipans, Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings. He averaged 6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 240 NBL games.