Lakers: 50 Greatest Players in Franchise History
By Eric Yee
50. Luke Walton
Many Lakers fans, even the most die-hard of the bunch, remember Luke Walton as a bench hero from the Pau Gasol-Kobe Bryant championship teams in the late 2000s. While he was undoubtedly that (and a cult hero for his troubles), he also played a much more integral role for the Lakers during the dark days in the mid 2000s as one of the key components alongside Kobe.
Over the course of his eight full seasons in Los Angeles, the Arizona Wildcats product averaged just five points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting a meager 43.3 percent from the field. However, from 2006-08, Walton played a much more important role for the organization as he averaged 9.1 ponts, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 36.5 percent from three.
Walton’s eight-and-a-half seasons with the team weren’t all productive, but he was loyal to the organization. Now the interim coach for the Golden State Warriors at just 35 years old, there are many hoping that Walton will return to make his presence felt again as Byron Scott’s usurper at head coach. While that may or may not happen, Walton served the Lakers well enough to kick off this list.
Next: No. 49 Ron Harper