Magic move: Walker swaps sneakers for the clipboard

The Mandurah Magic announced on Friday morning that 34-year-old veteran Devondrick Walker will be leading their men's program as Head Coach and Head of Performance.

The retiring guard will be shifting crosstown, having played at Rockingham and Geraldton between 2022 and 2026.

The former NBL import, who took up an assistant coaching role with the Perth Lynx in WNBL26, has an extensive basketball resume which will be an asset to the Magic.

Most recently, Walker averaged 18.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for Geraldton in the 2026 NBL1 West season.

Prior to this, he was devastating in his first two NBL1 seasons at Rockingham, averaging 27 and 27.1 points in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

In both campaigns, he shot more than 50 per cent from the field and converted five triples per game to claim back-to-back West MVP awards.

The 2022 campaign also saw the American win a title and Grand Final MVP with Rockingham.

Following this MVP-level season, he signed with the Brisbane Bullets in a short stint for NBL23 – one of three stops, following time with Perth and South East Melbourne.

His career also boasts stops in the NBA G League, Italy, France, New Zealand and Latvia.

Mandurah General Manager Brent Barclay was thrilled with the passion that Walker expressed towards the job and the experience he'll bring, as the club looks to improve on their efforts from the 2026 NBL1 West season.

"From the first conversation I had with Devondrick, it was his passion to work with and develop athletes that really stood out," Barclay said.

"As we develop our local performance strategy in both WABL and NBL1 spheres, bringing Devondrick into the team really enables us to progress and offer the best for our athletes."

Walker having experienced life as a professional athlete, will look to bring similar standards to Mandurah in what'll be a new chapter for the West Australian club.

"The opportunity to develop hungry young talent while aspiring to be the best coach I can was a no-brainer for me," the two-time MVP said.

"The decisions, sacrifices, and experiences on and off the court have led me to this moment and it's one I'm grateful for and will give my all to.

"My goal is to bring discipline, accountability, and overall joy to the WABL and NBL programs, top to bottom. I want the gym to feel like a sanctuary, safe place and a setting to always feel welcome.

"I will lean on my experiences as a player and coach to develop the organisation and contribute to a positive high-performance culture."

In 2027, Walker will lead a team that had three 20+ point scorers last season: Michael Christmas, Jock Perry and Lachlan Bertram.

This squad will look to climb the West table and replicate the efforts of Walker's Geraldton, which finished first with 18 wins to their name.

Have you got the NBL1 app? Make sure to download and turn on push notifications to get all your NBL1 West offseason news first.