Brooklyn Nets interim head coach Kevin Ollie has offered the specific reasoning for diminishing the role of one of the team's key players as the season unfolded.
Forward Lonnie Walker has experienced a significant reduction in his minutes this month, reaching a point where he received a DNP-CD (Did Not Play - Coach's Decision) in their recent road game against the Washington Wizards last Wednesday, March 27, at the Capital One Arena.
"I keep telling him it's not all just about scoring. It's about doing all the other little things-playing defense, rebounding, making the right plays, and that's just how it is. So, having him continue to understand that. When your shot's not falling, do the other things to make an impact on the game," the interim coach said on Friday, March 29, during a pre-game presser ahead of their home game against the Chicago Bulls in Barclays Center.
The Nets took a thrilling 122-119 overtime victory in the nation's capital, snapping their three-game winning streak.
Lonnie Walker IV played significant minutes at the start of the season
Lonnie Walker IV began the 2023-24 season with substantial playing time, even gaining consideration for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
However, Walker's role dwindled significantly within the Nets' rotation in the ensuing months.
This decline coincided with a coaching change following Jacque Vaughn's dismissal after the All-Star break, with Kevin Ollie assuming the interim head coaching position.
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