Mj Walker Bio
James Michael “M. J.” Walker Jr., commonly known as M. J. Walker, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League. Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and weighing 213 lb (97 kg), he plays the small forward and shooting guard positions. He first rose to national attention as a highly recruited high school standout in Georgia before spending four seasons with the Florida State Seminoles men’s basketball program. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Walker built a globe-spanning professional career that has included stints in the NBA G League, the NBA, the Canadian Elite Basketball League, French LNB Pro A, and the New Zealand National Basketball League.
Early Life and Background
James Michael “M. J.” Walker Jr. was born on March 28, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. He grew up in the nearby community of Jonesboro, where he attended Jonesboro High School and developed into one of the most decorated basketball players in the state of Georgia. His parents, James and Jackie Walker, both played college basketball, with his father suiting up for Norfolk State University and his mother competing for Hampton University. He also has an older sister, Amoni Walker, who plays for Miles College, extending the family’s deep connection to the sport.
Walker initially played football during his early years in Jonesboro but shifted his full focus to basketball after the summer of 2016, a decision that quickly paid off. As a sophomore in 2014–15, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game, leading Jonesboro to a 32–1 record and the 2015 Georgia Class 4A state championship. The following year, his production jumped to 22.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, helping the program post a 28–5 record, capture a regional title, and earn a second consecutive state title.
Path to Professional Basketball
Entering his senior season, Walker was recognized as a five-star recruit and one of the top high school prospects in the country, drawing scholarship offers from Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, UCLA, and Virginia Tech. He was also selected for prestigious showcase events, including the 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game and the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit. He committed to Florida State, joining a Seminoles program that had built a strong reputation for developing perimeter players.
As a sophomore at Florida State, Walker averaged 7.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, contributing to a 29–8 team record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen. His junior campaign earned him All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition, and his senior season marked a significant step forward, as he posted 12.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on his way to Second-team All-ACC honors in 2021. Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, choosing to forgo the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mj Walker Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, M. J. Walker signed with the New York Knicks on August 20, 2021, but was waived on October 16, 2021, before appearing in a regular-season NBA game. He then joined the Westchester Knicks, the Knicks’ NBA G League affiliate, as an affiliate player in October 2021, where he quickly emerged as a contributor by averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. On December 30, 2021, he signed a 10-day COVID-19 hardship exemption contract with the Phoenix Suns, appearing briefly in two NBA games during the 2021–22 season.
Walker was reacquired by the Westchester Knicks on January 9, 2022, and spent the remainder of that season back in the G League. He returned to the Knicks organization on a training camp deal in September 2022, was waived a day later, and was then added to the training camp roster on October 24, 2022, continuing his development in the New York system.
International and G League Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On June 6, 2023, M. J. Walker signed with the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, opening the international phase of his career. He averaged 11.2 points through nine games before being released on July 8, 2023, and quickly signed with the Brampton Honey Badgers ahead of the CEBL postseason. On August 3, 2023, he signed with Saint-Quentin of France’s top-flight LNB Pro A, spending the 2023–24 season competing in one of Europe’s most competitive basketball leagues.
On January 19, 2024, Walker joined the Greensboro Swarm, the NBA G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, returning to the American basketball landscape. A few months later, on March 12, 2024, he signed with the Canterbury Rams of the New Zealand National Basketball League for the 2024 season. His time in New Zealand proved to be the highlight of his early professional career, as he helped the Canterbury Rams capture the 2024 NZNBL championship.
Greensboro Swarm and College Park Skyhawks Era (2024–Present)
On October 27, 2024, M. J. Walker rejoined the Greensboro Swarm, though his tenure that fall was brief: he was waived on November 13, 2024, after one game, and then re-signed six days later as the team continued its season. He remained with the Swarm through the 2024–25 campaign, providing perimeter scoring and veteran leadership for a young Charlotte Hornets affiliate roster.
On October 13, 2025, Walker signed with the Atlanta Hawks, only to be waived the following day. He was then assigned to the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawks’ NBA G League team, where he continues his professional career in 2025. The move to Atlanta brought him back to the city where he was born, closing the loop on a journey that began in his hometown.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a 6 ft 5 in guard-forward, M. J. Walker uses his size to score effectively at all three levels, combining a reliable outside shot with the strength to finish through contact around the rim. He is at his best when operating in transition and using his length on the defensive end, where he can guard multiple positions. Across stops in the G League, CEBL, LNB Pro A, and the NZNBL, he has shown a willingness to fit into structured systems, an adaptability that has allowed him to succeed in a wide range of leagues and playing styles.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Walker’s career came in 2024, when he won the NZNBL championship with the Canterbury Rams, becoming a professional titleholder in one of the world’s most far-flung basketball competitions. Earlier milestones include his 2017 selection to the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit, honors reserved for the elite of his high school class. In 2016, he also represented the United States at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in Valdivia, Chile, winning a gold medal with the national team.
Mj Walker Career Wins
M. J. Walker’s professional résumé includes one verified league championship and several individual accolades earned across nearly half a decade of professional basketball. His biggest title to date came in 2024, when he helped the Canterbury Rams win the New Zealand National Basketball League crown. He has also produced All-ACC-level seasons at Florida State and consistent scoring performances in the NBA G League, the CEBL, and France’s LNB Pro A.
Series Highlights
Walker won the 2024 New Zealand NBL championship with the Canterbury Rams after signing with the club in March 2024. In the NBA G League, he has been a steady contributor for both the Westchester Knicks and the Greensboro Swarm, posting double-digit scoring averages during his most extended stretches. Earlier in his career, he earned All-ACC Honorable Mention as a junior and Second-team All-ACC honors as a senior in 2021 at Florida State.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Walker helped the United States win gold at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in Chile, one of the early crowning achievements of his career. He also put together a productive 11.2-point scoring average in nine games for the Vancouver Bandits of the CEBL in 2023, and was a reliable rotation player for Saint-Quentin in France’s LNB Pro A during the 2023–24 season.
Mj Walker Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Walker family. M. J. Walker’s father, James Walker, played college basketball at Norfolk State University, and his mother, Jackie Walker, played women’s college basketball at Hampton University. His older sister, Amoni Walker, also plays basketball at Miles College, continuing the family’s multi-generational connection to the sport at the collegiate level.
Personal Life
Born and raised in the greater Atlanta area, M. J. Walker attended Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Georgia, where he first built his reputation as one of the top high school players in the state. The 2025 signing with the Atlanta Hawks, and his subsequent move to the College Park Skyhawks, brought him back to the metropolitan region where he grew up.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a year of transition for M. J. Walker. After being waived by the Greensboro Swarm on November 13, 2024, following one game, he was re-signed six days later and remained a fixture in Charlotte’s G League system through the end of that campaign. His familiarity with the G League grind and his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor kept him in demand heading into the new season.
On October 13, 2025, Walker signed with the Atlanta Hawks, an opportunity that connected him back to his hometown franchise, but he was waived the next day. He was then assigned to the College Park Skyhawks, where he joined the Hawks’ developmental pipeline. The early results suggest a continued role as a scoring wing and veteran presence for a young College Park roster.
Looking ahead, Walker’s 2025 outlook centers on consistency and opportunity. With a championship in New Zealand already on his résumé and experience across multiple professional leagues, he offers the kind of versatile, position-flexible play that G League teams covet. A strong run with the College Park Skyhawks could put him back in position to compete for an NBA call-up, the next major milestone in a career that has already taken him across the United States, Canada, France, and New Zealand.