Luke Walton adjusting well in his assistant coach role at the University of Memphis – NBA Update
As it stands now, the NBA players are unemployed.
Not because of global recession, but due to NBA lockout that has pretty much put every NBA activity at halt. While most of the players are bent to pursue overseas opportunity, there are some who have preferred to stay in their
town and look for a normal job instead.
Last month, Delonte West landed himself in a furniture store and just hour ago, Milwaukee Bucks forward Drew Gooden joined Wingstop - a chicken wing franchise.
However Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton is a player, who has stuck to his basketball roots while also earning some needed cash. Walton was in the buzz about two months back when it was revealed that he will be serving as
an assistant coach with the University of Memphis.
Luke did not take much time to settle in his new role. He has been very active in recruiting new talent for the varsity team. However, he did find things different in his temporary stint;
"It's definitely different than then NBA," he said. "That's why I took the job, to see the difference between the two worlds. It's frustrating because in the NBA it's all about basketball. You get to college, and there are so many
rules and restrictions."
Walton was hired by Josh Pastner, head coach of Memphis and an ex team mate of Walton’s at Arizona almost a decade ago. This job gives him leverage to access trainers gym facilities, which because of the NBA lockout, is something
he did not have with the Lakers.
The stint is not only helping Walton maintain his fitness for the next NBA season, it has also given him an insight on the various spectrums of coaching. And he seems to be enjoying it;
"It's a lot of fun to see them start growing as players in the month or so I've been here," he said. "They want to do everything they can. The NBA's the ultimate goal. They want to know as much from us as they can about that."
The 31 year old forward still has two more years and $11.5 million dollars remaining on his contract with Lakers and will return to the team when the action starts again. However, he has always been inquisitive about what will
he do once he retires from the game. After this move, coaching seems to be a viable option now.
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