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After having convinced LeBron James to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, one question has been stuck in the back of the fan base’s heads for a little longer than anyone might be comfortable with: How might Luke Walton handle the situation? Tyronn Lue might know a thing or two about coaching James and will offer up some tips to Walton and the Lakers.
Here’s a preview, via Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times:
“I’ll just tell them, LeBron’s easy,” Lue said. “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. … So it’s going to be a totally different change for the Lakers. They’ll be able to handle it. LeBron is easy to play with, very unselfish. LeBron can bring guys along, make sure they’re doing the right thing. It’s going to be good. The outside is what you’ve gotta be able to block out.”
Many have wondered about Walton seeing as he wasn’t a Magic Johnson hire, and for good reason. Thus far, the only member of the Lakers’ young core still on the roster that Johnson didn’t directly draft or acquire is Brandon Ingram — who has spent the last couple weeks or so hearing his name come up in trade talks for Kawhi Leonard.
If things don’t start the way the Lakers might expect or if the team disappoints in the next season, Walton will catch a probably unfair amount of the blame, and Lue knows this. His advice and analysis of the situation is on-point.
It is worth pointing out how big a fan of Luke’s Jeanie Buss is. If there’s anyone you want on your side in the NBA, it’s the team’s owner, and she’s been very adamant in her support of Walton right from the get-go and ever since he first manned the Lakers sidelines.
Let’s all hope it doesn’t come to any of this, though, okay? It seems like Lue might be able to help with that.