Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James and Luke Walton pairing off to strong start
Recent comments from Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton suggest that the pair’s relationship is off to a solid start.
Over the weekend new Los Angeles Lakers addition LeBron James made a trip to Sin City. Granted James soaked in some Lakers’ Summer League action while there, there was another key reason James made his way to Las Vegas.
Yesterday the four-time MVP reportedly met with Lakers’ head coach Luke Walton. This marks the first time the two have met face-to-face since James opted to join the team.
Stemming from what is understood thus far, comments from Walton indicate James made a strong first impression.
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the Lakers’ skipper revealed the following about LeBron. Suffice to say, Walton likes every last bit of what he has heard from the three-time champion.
"“He’s about the team. He’s about doing things the right way, and he’s about winning,” Walton said. “I can work with those qualities.”"
Everything Walton said about James is difficult to deny. However, if there is one component that sticks out, it is when the 38-year-old alludes to winning.
James is no stranger to playing in big-time moments and has three rings in his collection to prove it. The central reason the Lakers are excited to have him aboard is to add to their own collection.
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The team has been amid a drought in that respect. Amid a five-year respite from the playoffs, the purple and gold have not won it all since 2010. Thus, to hear that LeBron desires to bring that winning culture back to L.A. provides a reason for hope.
Ryan Phillips of The Big Lead reports that Walton had conversations with multiple people before talking to James. Some of the primary exchanges Walton had were with Cavs coach Tyronn Lue and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
The discussion Walton had with Lue is particularly important because James spent the last four years in Cleveland. Even though many thought Lue and James did not get along so well, the opposite seems to be true.
Per Ryan Young of Yahoo Sports, Lue said LeBron was, in fact, “easy” to coach.
"“I’ll just tell them LeBron’s easy,” Lue told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin earlier this month ahead of his breakfast meeting with Walton. People get this whole thing built up like he’s hard to coach. It’s not. LeBron’s not the problem. It’s the outside tension that’s the problem. Just put added pressure immediately on the coaches, on his teammates. Now everything you do is under a microscope.”"
On the other hand, even if James is not always “easy” to coach, there is likely a logical explanation. As Walton referenced, the Lakers’ superstar acquisition wants to win badly. It is as simple as that.
When someone’s standards are at that high of a level, not everyone is going to understand. There is a different level in terms of commitment when certain players are considered. Indubitably, LBJ is the type that fits into that category.
The Lakers have been needing a player who fits that mold given that Kobe Bryant retired two years ago. Thankfully, the storied franchise got its man and, based on current indications, there are no signs of tension.
Since the James-Walton pairing is only in its juvenile stages, how their relationship unfolds is undetermined. However, one thing is known. It is safe to say that anything further regarding the two is going to be examined closely.
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Fortunately for the Los Angeles Lakers, so far, so good. It is just about all one could hope for at this juncture.