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Thomas Ryan Walkup (Greek language: Τόμας Γουόκαπ, born December 30, 1992) is an American-born naturalized Greek professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. He also represents the Greek national team in international competition. Widely considered one of the premier defensive players in European basketball, he was named the EuroLeague Best Defender in 2024.
Walkup played college basketball for Stephen F. Austin State University, before being named Southland Conference Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons (2015 and 2016). He reached three consecutive EuroLeague Final Four tournaments with Olympiakos between 2022 and 2024, including the competition's final in 2023.
In November 2010, Walkup committed to play college basketball at Stephen F. Austin State University for the Lumberjacks. He chose the school because he aspired to compete in the NCAA Division I tournament and they ran a successful program. Houston Baptist was the only other school that offered him a scholarship. Walkup later said, "There was a reason I didn’t have any other scholarship offers besides those two—I wasn't any good." His father commented on Walkup's recruitment, "I'm sure scouts looked at him and said, 'Well, he's a 6–4 white guy and he can't shoot and he plays the four. And we don't need that.'"
As a junior at Stephen F. Austin, Walkup averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. His teammates began referring to him as "The Snake", after establishing his ability for rebounds, consistently drawing fouls for opposing players, and providing scrappy defense for the Lumberjacks. He was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in 2015.
In the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Walkup scored 33 points in a 70–56 upset over third-seeded West Virginia. He shot 19-for-20 on free throws.
On August 10, 2017, Walkup signed with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga for the 2017–18 season. In April 2018, he was named to the All-German BBL First Team. On June 21, 2018, Walkup signed with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League. Walkup received the LKL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2019. On 27 November 2019, Walkup extended his contract with Žalgiris until the summer of 2021.
On June 11, 2021, Walkup signed a three-year deal with Greek club Olympiacos of the EuroLeague. On April 12, 2023, he agreed on a three-year contract extension through 2027.
Walkup played with Greece at the 2024 Olympic Games, where the Greek national team reached the quarterfinals.
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| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Žalgiris
| 34 || 18 || 16.8 || .486 || .295 || .806 || 2.6 || 2.2 || .5 || .0 || 5.2 || 5.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|28* || 21 || 25.8 || .495 || .467 || .857 || 3.6 || 5.5 || 1.0 || .1 || 9.6 || 12.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| 34 || 34 || 24.1 || .423 || .371 || .906 || 3.0 || 4.5 || 1.1 || || 8.2 || 10.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4"| Olympiacos
| 37 || 37 || 22.4 || .416 || .297 || .739 || 2.3 || 2.7 || 1.1 || .1 || 6.3 || 7.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| style="background:#CFECEC;"| 41* || style="background:#CFECEC;"| 41* || 25.1 || .443 || .333 || .854 || 2.8 || 5.6 || style="background:#CFECEC;"| 1.8* || .1 || 7.3 || 11.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24
| 40 || 40 || 26.4 || .376 || .302 || .767 || 3.0 || 4.8 || 1.6 || .1 || 7.9 || 9.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25
| 26 || 20 || 20.1 || .426 || .340 || .615 || 2.3 || 4.6 || 1.0 || .1 || 4.0 || 7.2
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 240 || 211 || 23.0 || .431 || .336 || .805 || 2.8 || 4.3 || 1.2 || .1 || 7.0 || 9.2
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! Year
! Team
! League
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
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| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 || style="text-align:left;"| Windy City Bulls || style="text-align:center;"|D-League || 40 || 24.4 || .457 || .282 || .845 || 3.9 || 3.4 || 1.0 || .1 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 || style="text-align:left;"| Riesen Ludwigsburg || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 39 || 27.6 || .500 || .418 || .828 || 5.1 || 4.5 || 1.7 || .1 || 11.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| 2018–19† || style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris || style="text-align:center;"|LKL || 43 || 18.7 || .478 || .291 || .787 || 3.1 || 2.9 || 1.2 || .0 || 6.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| 2019–20† || style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris || style="text-align:center;"|LKL || 22 || 17.1 || .490 || .395 || .826 || 3.2 || 4.2 || .9 || || 7.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| 2020–21† || style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris || style="text-align:center;"|LKL || 38 || 21.9 || .480 || .403 || .833 || 3.4 || 5.7 || 1.7 || .1 || 9.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| 2021–22† || style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos || style="text-align:center;"|GBL || 31 || 18.2 || .414 || .286 || .775 || 2.4 || 3.6 || 1.2 || .0 || 6.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| 2022–23† || style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos || style="text-align:center;"|GBL || 31 || 20.7 || .476 || .325 || .688 || 2.4 || |5.5 || 1.4 || .1 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos || style="text-align:center;"|GBL || 31 || 23.4 || .487 || .410 || .717 || 3.2 || 4.7 || 1.0 || .1 || 6.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| 2024–25† || style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos || style="text-align:center;"|GBL || 18 || 21.1 || .483 || .379 || .692 || 2.6 || |4.2 || 1.1 || .1 || 4.2
College career
Walkup immediately assumed a big role with the Lumberjacks as the team's sixth man during his freshman season. In 18.5 minutes per game, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds. He recorded a season-best 11 points twice, against Tulsa on November 24, 2012, and versus McNeese State on January 5, 2013. That season, the Lumberjacks won a school-record 27 games, winning their third Southland Conference title of all-time and qualifying for the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Walkup joined the Golden State Warriors for the 2016 NBA Summer League. On September 26, 2016, he signed with the Chicago Bulls. However, he was later waived by the Bulls on October 21 after appearing in four preseason games. On October 30, he was acquired by the Windy City Bulls of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of Chicago.
Greek National team career
On April 18, 2023, Walkup received Greek citizenship through honorary naturalization, which was signed by the Minister of the Interior, Makis Voridis, and the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou. This citizenship enabled him to play for the senior Greece national basketball team in major FIBA international competitions and to compete as a native player in Greece's top-tier domestic basketball competitions, including the Greek Basket League, the Greek Basketball Cup, and the Greek Basketball Super Cup.
Career statistics
EuroLeague
* Led the league
Basketball Champions League
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Riesen Ludwigsburg
| 20 || 20 || 28.3 || .468 || .365 || .841 || 4.5 || 4.5 || 1.9 || .2 || 11.9
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 20 || 20 || 28.3 || .468 || .365 || .841 || 4.5 || 4.5 || 1.9 || .2 || 11.9
Domestic leagues
† Denotes season in which Walkup won a League title
College
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12
| style="text-align:left;"| Stephen F. Austin
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| Redshirt
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13
| style="text-align:left;"| Stephen F. Austin
| 32 || 0 || 18.5 || .505 || .455 || .605 || 3.6 || 1.3 || .8 || .1 || 4.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14
| style="text-align:left;"| Stephen F. Austin
| 35 || 34 || 28.4 || .568 || .359 || .733 || 5.3 || 2.1 || 1.1 || .3 || 13.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15
| style="text-align:left;"| Stephen F. Austin
| 34 || 34 || 27.7 || .613 || .262 || .744 || 6.5 || 3.7 || 1.2 || .2 || 15.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16
| style="text-align:left;"| Stephen F. Austin
| 34 || 34 || 29.5 || .588 || .256 || .818 || 6.9 || 4.5 || 2.1 || .5 || 18.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 135 || 102 || 26.2 || .568 || .305 || .759 || 5.6 || 2.9 || 1.3 || .3 || 12.9
Awards and accomplishments
Club career
Riesen Ludwigsburg
Žalgiris Kaunas
Olympiacos
Individual
Personal life
Walkup was born on December 30, 1992, to Lisa and Raymond Walkup and was brought up in Pasadena, Texas. He has an older brother named Nathan who played as a forward for the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team from the 2007–08 season to 2010–11 season. Both players graduated at Deer Park High School and played under Coach Louis Means. Walkup has often been known for his beard, which drew the attention of several media outlets during the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Entering that year's tournament, he had not shaved since November 1, 2015. Walkup claimed that he had been asked to shave it, but he felt that it fit in with Stephen F. Austin's mascot, the Lumberjacks. His appearance has also been compared with Philadelphia Phillies baseball player Bryce Harper. He has also been nicknamed "Fresh Cut" by Barry Knight.
External links
Categories: 1992 Births, Living People, 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup Players, American Expatriate Basketball People In Germany, American Expatriate Basketball People In Greece, American Expatriate Basketball People In Lithuania, American Men's Basketball Players, Basketball Players From Harris County, Texas, Bc Žalgiris Players, Greek Men's Basketball Players, Greek People Of American Descent, Naturalised Basketball Players, Naturalized Citizens Of Greece, Olympiacos B.c. Players, Riesen Ludwigsburg Players, People From Pasadena, Texas, Point Guards, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Basketball Players, Windy City Bulls Players, Basketball Players At The 2024 Summer Olympics, Olympic Basketball Players For Greece, 21st-century American Sportsmen, 21st-century Greek Sportsmen
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