Walton Feels at Home in LA, By Andrew De Lara
Luke Walton wasn't always a Lakers Fan.
It's hard for any current Lakers fanatic to imagine Luke supporting any other NBA squad away from Los Angeles - but growing up in San Diego, Luke instead cheered for a team on the opposite coast, clear across the country. What's more, he idolized a team long known as the Lakers' arch-rival: the Boston Celtics.
But his team wasn't like any other prepubescent boys' favorite hoops squad. The team's success and failure hit him much closer to home literally. "Growing up, my dad played for the Celtics," explained Walton, whose father, NBA legend, Bill Walton, played for Boston from 1985 to 1987. "So I used to root for the Celtics when I was a little kid." Watching his father help the Celtics win the 1986 NBA Championship more than likely inspired a passion for hoops.
Naturally, basketball was in his blood, as he picked up a basketball seriously when he was but eight-years-old. Nevertheless, he began his young athletic life involved with much more than just basketball. "Growing up I played everything. Basketball was always my favorite, but I played soccer, tennis, swimming and football," said Walton. "Then when I went to high school, I gave everything up to just play basketball."
But as the son of a two-time NBA All-Star and future legend, there was never any doubt that Luke and his three brothers had the eyes of the basketball world on them. With the Walton name came the pressure to continue their father's basketball legacy. "Yeah, the pressure was there, but I had two older brothers, and I saw them having to deal with that in high school," said Walton, whose six-foot-eight, 238 pound frame is characteristic of a basketball forward. "So when I got to high school I wasn't too worried about it. I just played to have fun, and that was it."
And of course, growing up in the household of one of the game's 50 greatest players of all time came with a few skill advantages. "We used to be in the backyard playing all the time with my brothers and my friends, and he'd come out and give us tips and advice," Walton said.
Apparently, the advice worked. Following a successful career at University High School in San Diego, he left the familiar beach sand of California for the desert and the University of Arizona. There he enjoyed a great career playing up-tempo basketball for head coach Lute Olsen, helping his team to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight his senior year - as well as averaging an unselfish 10.8 points and 5.1 assists per game. Following a hop from home in San Diego to Arizona, Luke found himself with the opportunity to skip along to the NBA. He was present at the 2003 NBA Draft, where he was picked third in the second round by the Lakers. Luke found himself jumping back to the golden state and the limelight in Los Angeles.
Fortunately, upon his arrival onto the Lake Show scene, he came into a system that fit his playing style and passing skills to a "T" in Tex Winter's and Phil Jackson's famed triangle offense. "It was the type of offense I liked," said Walton. "Obviously, it takes a lot to learn it, but I definitely think it was the type of motion offense that I feel most comfortable in."
Three years later, Luke now seems to be growing much more comfortable in the offense, despite Coach Phil Jackson's one year absence in 2004. After a surprising and strong play-off appearance by the team last season and a productive off-season, Luke is displaying the fruits of his labor this season. Once known as but a mere bench contributor, he is now proving himself to be more of an offensive threat and a solid role player. Currently averaging 11.9 points and 3.4 assists per game, Luke has had the opportunity to grace the starting line-up thus far this season, and is contributing enough to keep him as a crucial point on opposing teams' scouting reports - even as a perimeter shooter.
Being a part of scouting reports are one thing but Luke being scouted as a three-point shooter? Just a few years ago, not many would have respected Luke as a threat beyond the arc. But to the pleasant surprise of Lakers fans far and wide, Luke is currently the most efficient NBA shooter in the National Basketball Association shooting at a blistering 63 percent accuracy rate.
When asked about his development as a dynamic offensive threat, he attributes his improvement to confidence, hard work and opportunity within the offense. "It's just all those things combined," Walton explained. "I always have worked on my outside shot. Now I have the opportunity and the confidence in myself to make the shots. All those things together I think are why I'm shooting the ball well this year."
And if an opposing team's scouts are still not believing Luke's being a consistent perimeter threat, they can simply ask the fans in the stands STAPLES Center. Not a new thing by any means at a Lakers game, fans continue to chant "LUUUUUUUUKKKKEE" upon his arrival on the court, something that he first experienced in college. "They did that out in Arizona," said Walton. "But they didn't do it like they do it here. Now every time I come on the court, I hear some of it."
The difference is, these days, the chant progressively gets a little louder each game with his increased contribution and role on the team. Now fans are confidently yelling his name when he's on the perimeter ready to shoot, and he's not about to complain about that. "You have the crowd behind you and it gets the blood flowing a little faster," said Walton of his personalized chant.
Rewind a few decades and ask a Lakers fan who was around during the Lake Show's 1977 season what they thought about a red-headed NBA player named Walton. You'd probably be on the tail end of a few unkind words and gestures, as Bill Walton's Portland Trailblazers swept Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Lakers in the Western Conference Finals that year. These days however, the Walton name is thoroughly embraced by the Lakers' devoted fan-base, and Luke is clearly embracing Los Angeles and the Lakers.
His positive energy also extends to coach Phil Jackson, whose unconventional coaching techniques seem to be preparing the team as a whole, as well as Walton for the challenges and rigors ahead this season. "He has a great philosophy of the game and he's a great teacher," said Walton of his head coach. "Obviously, I've learned a lot since I've been here. It's my fourth year now; I just enjoy coming in each day and learning new things from him."
And learning doesn't just mean basketball skills. Mental aspects of the game are approached quite differently than most other teams, much to Luke's appreciation. "Today at shootaround, we meditated," explained Walton in the Lakers locker room prior to their 99-93 win over the New Jersey Nets in late November. "I've never had a coach really do that type of thing before - like taking basketball to another level as far as thinking about it and relating it as an on-the-court and off-the-court thing. But I like it."
Walton and his team hope that their resulting focus, as well as the noticeably positive team morale thus far will take them far this season. But Luke doesn't expect his team to simply just make the playoffs this year. He believes that the team's meshing and solid players bring unlimited potential and the opportunity for continuing the franchise's winning tradition. When asked about when the next time the Lakers will be competing for an NBA Championship, Luke contends that it won't be very long. "I think we are this year," said Walton on vying for a title. "I think we proved last year that when we're playing at a high level, we can compete with anybody in the league. And I don't think there's any team this year that's so dominant that they can't be beat. In the past with the old Lakers teams, you knew they were going to win. The Spurs - you knew they were going to win. This year, the NBA is very equal at the top. I think we have an opportunity. If we pick our game up and play well, we can win a championship."
Lakers fans will certainly agree, adding more to their affection for Walton. With that, it's becoming obvious that Luke is feeling more and more at home in Los Angeles. "This definitely feels like home," said Walton. "I grew up in San Diego, so I'm a Southern California kid and I love it here. It would be great to stay here."
But Luke not only enjoys the great atmosphere that Southern California has to offer. He feels in place as a part of the Lakers organization. "They're one of the best organizations," said Walton of the Lakers. "They take care of their players, and I have a great relationship with all the people in the office and everything so yeah, I love it here."
So no, Luke Walton wasn't always a Lakers fan. But ask him about the Lake Show these days after spending a little time in Los Angeles, and
"Now, I'm a die-hard Lakers guy."