READING, Pa. — Who better to talk about the latest “Kid From Reading” news than kids from Reading?
“I think his story is really inspirational. ‘Cuz like his story really shows that you can come from anywhere as long as you put in the effort and stuff like that,” said Matthew Martinez of Reading.
“It’s good to see a person from Reading actually go to the NBA, like make it out of Reading,” said Angel Baez.
“To see him play at these parks in Reading, it motivates me to play even better and better and better,” said one fan.
They’re reacting to the latest reports that Reading High star and state champ Lonnie Walker is making a return to the Association.
“I was shocked ‘cuz I thought he deserved to be on an NBA team. I feel like he has the skill to be on an NBA team. When he wasn’t on an NBA team, I thought that was messed up. Now that he’s coming back, I feel like he’s gonna do big things.”
Walker is racking up quite the resume stateside and overseas — most recently for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague, and prior to that, the 76ers, Nets, Lakers, and originally drafted by the Spurs.
“I’m glad that they see potential in him,” Martinez said.
Lonnie Walker fans are excited and reacting to this news about him heading to the Denver Nuggets. Evidence of Lonnie Walker’s outreach can be found across the city, like here at Baer Park, where the Lonnie Walker IV Foundation donated money for the basketball courts.
“I go to Baer Park a lot,” one young fan said. “I seen him play over there. He’s tough, I mean he’s a good basketball player.”
“It’s like he wants to leave a legacy, and it just shows that he’s not selfish. Like some people won’t ever visit back or act like they’re not from here, but he helps this city a lot,” Martinez said.
So the journey that started on the courts of Reading now heads west — with a fanbase that seems to follow him wherever’s next.