Star Spartan and G-League guard Tyson Walker stands United

Melbourne United is thrilled to announce the signing of import guard, Tyson Walker, for the NBL26 season on a one-year contract.

A lightning-quick guard with the ability to stop on a dime and rise into his jumper, while locking down opposing ball-handlers at the other end, Walker is set to bring electricity to every NBL court he steps on to.

Speaking to Melbourne United Media, Walker touched on his elation to be heading to Melbourne.

“I’m definitely excited to get there and get to work,” he said.

“It’s my first time playing overseas so I’m hoping it can be a good one in a great city. The conversations went really well talking to the whole staff. It seems like a really tight group, something you want to be a part of and I’m ready to be a part of it.

“They can expect a competitor. Someone who’s always going to play as hard as he can to try to win, a little bit of flashy stuff, not too much, and just a lot of energy.”

Growing up in New York, Walker attended notable basketball talent factory Christ the King High School, which has produced stars such as Jose Alverado, Sue Bird, Lamar Odom and Tina Charles, before spending two years at Northeastern University in the NCAA, where he was named to the Colonial Athletic Association First Team and Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2021.

Following this, he transferred to famed program, Michigan State University, for his final three seasons, starting 96 of 104 games and helping the Spartans make three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. 

At State, Walker led the team in scoring across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, both of which he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Walker finished his collegiate career as the only player in Division 1 history with at least 2000 points, 500 assists and 200 steals.

After graduating, he joined the Phoenix Suns in NBA Summer League before being selected with the seventh pick in the G-League draft by the Texas Legends, averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals across 25 games.

Head Coach Dean Vickerman is confident Walker is the perfect fit for United’s NBL26 roster build.

“When we identified the role, we wanted a super high-level on-ball defender and that was what attracted us to Tyson,” Vickerman explained.

“We looked back through his Michigan State days and saw his ability to be a point guard, but also to play off the basketball and score at a high-level when he needs to.

“Then, moving on to the G-League, he was able to progress through the roster really quickly and establish himself as the lead decision-maker on that team.

“We look at our style of play for this year and we have the ability to play a little bit faster and put more pressure on the basketball and Tyson offers that in spades.

“He’s quick, he’s a New York point guard, there’s some flair and some sauce in the way that he plays, and I think he’s really going to entertain our fans.”

The American takes up United’s second import spot for NBL26, and joins Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Milton Doyle, Finn Delany, Kyle Bowen, Tanner Krebs, Fabijan Krslovic, Tom Wilson, Dash Daniels, Campbell Blogg and Tom Koppens as signed players for NBL26.

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