Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Derrick Walton Jr. is a skilled point guard known for his leadership, steady decision-making, and ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game. Although his NBA opportunities were limited, he continued to build a successful professional career through strong play in the G League and international basketball.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of his profile:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Derrick Walton Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on April 3, 1995
  • Hometown: Detroit, Michigan, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm)
  • Weight: 185 pounds (84 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 1 inch
  • Shoe Size: Size 10 (US)
  • Number: Has worn jersey number 11 during his career.
  • Position: Point Guard
  • High School: Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, Michigan
  • College: University of Michigan (2013–2017)
  • NBA Draft: Went undrafted in 2017.
  • Teams Played For:
    • NBA:
      • Miami Heat (2017–2018)
      • Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2020)
      • Detroit Pistons (2021–2022)
    • NBA G League:
      • Sioux Falls Skyforce (2017–2018)
      • Agua Caliente Clippers (2019–2020)
      • Motor City Cruise (2021–2022)
    • International:
      • Žalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania, 2018–2019)
      • Alba Berlin (Germany, 2019)
      • ASVEL Basket (France, 2020–2021)
      • Sydney Kings (Australia, 2022–2023)
      • Zhejiang Lions (China, 2023–2024)
      • South East Melbourne Phoenix (Australia, 2024–present)
  • Championship Rings: None to date.
  • Kids: Not publicly known.
  • Siblings: Not publicly disclosed.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Derrick Walton Jr.’s player archetype was that of a compact lead guard who blended table-setting with enough shooting to keep defenses honest. At 6-foot and 185 pounds, he was smaller than many backcourt opponents, but he played with toughness, balance, and quickness, which suited him defensively as a point-of-attack guard who could pressure the ball and compete through effort. Offensively, his role was that of a primary handler and organizer: he pushed tempo, created for teammates, got into the paint when gaps opened, and complemented that with credible perimeter shooting rather than pure volume scoring. The overall play style was steady and functional—more about control, decision-making, and all-around guard play than flash—with Walton bringing the kind of reliable floor game that let him contribute as both a passer and a spacer. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Derrick Walton Jr. plays with the mentality of a point guard who is always trying to keep the offense on schedule rather than dominating every possession himself. What stands out is how efficiently he strings actions together in the pick-and-roll, keeping defenders on his back just long enough to force the big man into an uncomfortable decision before delivering simple, well-timed passes instead of chasing highlight assists. His pace changes are more important than his raw speed. He’ll hesitate, re-accelerate and slip into the paint, then quickly kick the ball to the weak side once the low man rotates. When defenses stay home, he’s comfortable pulling up behind the screen or stepping confidently into catch-and-shoot threes, making it difficult to simply duck under every action. The trade-off is that he doesn’t consistently generate enough separation against long, athletic defenders to live at the rim, so his scoring can become perimeter-oriented when opponents switch aggressively or shrink driving lanes. Defensively, he competes with good anticipation, staying connected over screens and using active hands to bother opposing ball handlers before they get into their sets. It’s easy to overlook how often he disrupts timing rather than producing steals, because forcing an offense to begin an action two seconds later can be just as valuable. Bigger guards can shoot over him or create problems by backing him down after switches, but he generally recognizes those situations early and works to deny deep position before the entry pass arrives. To me, Walton is best suited to a structured offense with multiple creators, where he can alternate between initiating, spacing the floor and attacking tilted defenses instead of carrying a heavy creation burden every trip. His game shares elements with Tyus Jones in the way he values ball security and decision-making over difficult individual scoring, while there are also similarities to Jalen Brunson’s earlier complementary role, though Walton relies more on rhythm shooting and timing than strength or footwork inside the arc.

Sources:

NBA.com — Derrick Walton Jr. | Guard
Basketball-Reference — Derrick Walton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
University of Michigan Athletics — Derrick Walton Jr. – Men’s Basketball
ESPN — Derrick Walton Jr. Biography
Sports Forecaster — Derrick Walton Jr. Stats, Profile, Bio, Analysis and More | –