Luke Walton
Encyclopedia
Luke Theodore Walton is an American
professional basketball
player for the Los Angeles Lakers
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). His primary position is at small forward
. After the 2010 NBA Finals
, Walton and his father Hall of Famer Bill Walton
became the first and only (as of 2010) father and son to both have won multiple NBA championships. Bill won in 1977
and 1986
, and Luke in 2009
and 2010
. On August 22, 2011, Walton joined the University of Memphis staff as an assistant basketball coach.
, and was named after Bill's close friend and former Portland Trail Blazers
teammate Maurice Lucas
. He has three brothers — Adam, Nathan (who unsuccessfully ran for governor during the 2003 California recall), and Chris. He attended University of San Diego High School in San Diego, California
.
in 1998, Walton enrolled at the University of Arizona
and majored in family studies and human development. There, he played for the Wildcats
under coach Lute Olson
. In his junior year, Walton averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. As a fifth-year senior, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 0.9 steals.
Walton graduated from Arizona at the end of 2003, and was selected by the Lakers in the 2003 NBA Draft
with the third pick of the second round (32nd overall). Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, Walton has been with the Lakers for his entire NBA career.
ends . Walton played at the University of Arizona where current Memphis head coach Josh Pastner
was also a player/assistant.
's rotation, but returned to a regular spot in the lineup after the coach's resignation midway through the season.
In 2006–07, Walton had a career year, with career high per game averages in minutes, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, steals, blocks, rebounds, assists and points. His PER
also reached a career high. Following the season, on July 12, 2007, Walton was signed to a 6-year, $30 million contract.
His career high game was on December 8, 2006 against the Atlanta Hawks, where he had 25 points. He was playing some of his best basketball until his injury on January 26, 2007 occurred.
-type dancing skeletons, each one with a basketball; the skeletons represent Luke and his three brothers.
In 2006, Walton made a cameo appearance on the television soap opera
The Young and the Restless
.
In December 2008, a woman named Stacy Elizabeth Beshear http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/stacy-beshear-luke-walton-stace-beshear-steve-beshear-misty-may-treanor.htm pleaded no contest
to charges of stalking Walton; she was arrested after she pulled up to Walton's car and pretended to fire gunshots at him with her hand. She was sentenced to three years' probation, told to attend weekly counseling sessions for a year and ordered to stay away for three years from Walton's home and from the Lakers' games and practices.
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 72 || 2 || 10.1 || .425 || .333 || .705 || 1.8 || 1.6 || .4 || .1 || 2.4
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 61 || 5 || 12.6 || .411 || .262 || .708 || 2.3 || 1.5 || .4 || .2 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 69 || 6 || 19.3 || .412 || .327 || .750 || 3.6 || 2.3 || .6 || .2 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 60 || 60 || 33.0 || .474 || .387 || .745 || 5.0 || 4.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 11.4
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 74 || 31 || 23.4 || .450 || .333 || .706 || 3.9 || 2.9 || .8 || .2 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 65 || 34 || 17.9 || .436 || .298 || .719 || 2.8 || 2.7 || .5 || .2 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 29 || 0 || 9.4 || .357 || .412 || .500 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .3 || .0 || 2.4
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 54 || 0 || 9.0 || .328 || .235 || .700 || 1.2 || 1.1 || .2 || .1 || 1.7
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 484 || 138 || 17.5 || .433 || .329 || .724 || 2.9 || 2.3 || .6 || .2 || 5.0
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 17 || 0 || 7.9 || .345 || .385 || .700 || 1.3 || 1.5 || .4 || .1 || 1.9
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 7 || 33.6 || .458 || .364 || 1.000 || 6.4 || 1.7 || 1.0 || .1 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 5 || 5 || 25.6 || .389 || .417 || .750 || 4.2 || 2.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 21 || 0 || 15.8 || .427 || .313 || .611 || 2.5 || 2.1 || .7 || .1 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 21 || 0 || 16.8 || .454 || .423 || .722 || 2.6 || 2.0 || .5 || .2 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 16 || 0 || 6.0 || .304 || .222 || .500 || .5 || .9 || .1 || .1 || 1.1
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 1 || 0 || 4.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 88 || 12 || 14.6 || .420 || .360 || .701 || 2.3 || 1.7 || .5 || .2 || 4.3
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). His primary position is at small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
. After the 2010 NBA Finals
2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2009–10 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending NBA champions, and the Boston Celtics, champions of the Eastern Conference...
, Walton and his father Hall of Famer Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
became the first and only (as of 2010) father and son to both have won multiple NBA championships. Bill won in 1977
1977 NBA Finals
The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. The Portland Trail Blazers of the Western Conference played against the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage. Their 4 regular season meetings had been...
and 1986
1986 NBA Finals
The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-86 NBA season. It pitted the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics against the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets. The Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two to win their 16th NBA championship. The championship would...
, and Luke in 2009
2009 NBA Finals
The 2009 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2008-09 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending Western Conference champions, and the Orlando Magic, champions of the...
and 2010
2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2009–10 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending NBA champions, and the Boston Celtics, champions of the Eastern Conference...
. On August 22, 2011, Walton joined the University of Memphis staff as an assistant basketball coach.
Early life
Luke Walton is the son of former NBA great Bill WaltonBill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
, and was named after Bill's close friend and former Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
teammate Maurice Lucas
Maurice Lucas
Maurice Lucas was an American professional basketball player. The first two years of his postcollegiate career were spent in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis and Kentucky Colonels...
. He has three brothers — Adam, Nathan (who unsuccessfully ran for governor during the 2003 California recall), and Chris. He attended University of San Diego High School in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
College
After graduating from University of San Diego High SchoolUniversity of San Diego High School
The University of San Diego High School , also known as The University High School or "Uni", was a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school located in San Diego, California...
in 1998, Walton enrolled at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and majored in family studies and human development. There, he played for the Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
under coach Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
. In his junior year, Walton averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. As a fifth-year senior, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 0.9 steals.
Walton graduated from Arizona at the end of 2003, and was selected by the Lakers in the 2003 NBA Draft
2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
with the third pick of the second round (32nd overall). Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, Walton has been with the Lakers for his entire NBA career.
Coaching
On August 22, 2011, the University of Memphis announced they would hire Walton as an assistant coach until the 2011 NBA Lockout2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
ends . Walton played at the University of Arizona where current Memphis head coach Josh Pastner
Josh Pastner
-References:...
was also a player/assistant.
NBA career
Walton suffered an injury in the 2004 preseason and was unable to find a place in Rudy TomjanovichRudy Tomjanovich
Rudolph Tomjanovich, Jr. , nicknamed Rudy T., is an American retired basketball player and coach who coached the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.-Early life:...
's rotation, but returned to a regular spot in the lineup after the coach's resignation midway through the season.
In 2006–07, Walton had a career year, with career high per game averages in minutes, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, steals, blocks, rebounds, assists and points. His PER
Player Efficiency Rating
The Player Efficiency Rating is ESPN Insider writer John Hollinger's all-in-one basketball rating, which attempts to boil down all of a player's contributions into one number. Using a detailed formula, Hollinger developed a system that rates every player's statistical performance.-Introduction:PER...
also reached a career high. Following the season, on July 12, 2007, Walton was signed to a 6-year, $30 million contract.
His career high game was on December 8, 2006 against the Atlanta Hawks, where he had 25 points. He was playing some of his best basketball until his injury on January 26, 2007 occurred.
Personal
On his right arm, there is a tattoo of four Grateful DeadGrateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
-type dancing skeletons, each one with a basketball; the skeletons represent Luke and his three brothers.
In 2006, Walton made a cameo appearance on the television soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
.
In December 2008, a woman named Stacy Elizabeth Beshear http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081007/stacy-beshear-luke-walton-stace-beshear-steve-beshear-misty-may-treanor.htm pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to charges of stalking Walton; she was arrested after she pulled up to Walton's car and pretended to fire gunshots at him with her hand. She was sentenced to three years' probation, told to attend weekly counseling sessions for a year and ordered to stay away for three years from Walton's home and from the Lakers' games and practices.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 72 || 2 || 10.1 || .425 || .333 || .705 || 1.8 || 1.6 || .4 || .1 || 2.4
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 61 || 5 || 12.6 || .411 || .262 || .708 || 2.3 || 1.5 || .4 || .2 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 69 || 6 || 19.3 || .412 || .327 || .750 || 3.6 || 2.3 || .6 || .2 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 60 || 60 || 33.0 || .474 || .387 || .745 || 5.0 || 4.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 11.4
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 74 || 31 || 23.4 || .450 || .333 || .706 || 3.9 || 2.9 || .8 || .2 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 65 || 34 || 17.9 || .436 || .298 || .719 || 2.8 || 2.7 || .5 || .2 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 29 || 0 || 9.4 || .357 || .412 || .500 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .3 || .0 || 2.4
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 54 || 0 || 9.0 || .328 || .235 || .700 || 1.2 || 1.1 || .2 || .1 || 1.7
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 484 || 138 || 17.5 || .433 || .329 || .724 || 2.9 || 2.3 || .6 || .2 || 5.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2004
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 17 || 0 || 7.9 || .345 || .385 || .700 || 1.3 || 1.5 || .4 || .1 || 1.9
|-
| align="left" | 2006
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 7 || 33.6 || .458 || .364 || 1.000 || 6.4 || 1.7 || 1.0 || .1 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 5 || 5 || 25.6 || .389 || .417 || .750 || 4.2 || 2.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 21 || 0 || 15.8 || .427 || .313 || .611 || 2.5 || 2.1 || .7 || .1 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 21 || 0 || 16.8 || .454 || .423 || .722 || 2.6 || 2.0 || .5 || .2 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 16 || 0 || 6.0 || .304 || .222 || .500 || .5 || .9 || .1 || .1 || 1.1
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | L.A. Lakers
| 1 || 0 || 4.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 88 || 12 || 14.6 || .420 || .360 || .701 || 2.3 || 1.7 || .5 || .2 || 4.3