Catching Up with Luke Walton
by Ty Nowell
September 19th, 2007

Lakers.com caught up with 5th year forward Luke Walton to talk about Basketball Without Borders, his new deal, and the season ahead.

Talk about Basketball Without Borders and the rest of your summer.
I did my 3rd year of Basketball Without Borders. This year we went down to South America to San Paulo, Brazil with all the Brazilian players like (Suns’ guard Leandro) Barbosa, (Cavs forward Anderson) Varejao, and (Nuggets forward) Nene.

Me and a group of my buddies went down a week early and traveled around to different places. Then Basketball Without Borders flew in the best people from all over Brazil and we put on camps in the morning for them and then the NBA coaches stay and help in the afternoon and we go out into the community. We donated a learning center one place. We donated twenty computers, a library, and two full court basketball courts in a very poor neighborhood down there. We went to a children’s hospital and visited. Then we also had a day with the Special Olympics over at the basketball gym. It was a really good experience.

How did you get involved with Basketball Without Borders?
I heard they had been doing it and I heard from other people that it was a really good program so I called over to the NBA office and told them that I was interested and we needed to work something out. I went the first year (to Asia) and saw that the NBA did an unbelievable job over there. Not with just basketball, but with life skills and donating things that these other countries really need. It’s something I enjoy doing so now it’s in my plan to do it every year.

Who’s bigger in Brazil – Barbosa, Varejao, or Nene?
Probably Barbosa. He’s from Sao Paulo so he was the hometown boy. It was still crazy because we’d ask some people and they didn’t know who any of them were. It’s such a big Soccer area and other things that basketball’s not that huge down there. It’s big, but there’s a lot of sports fans that didn’t know who the guys were.

Talk about your brief period as a free agent.
It was nerve wracking. Even though it was short, it was the whole time period leading up to that. L.A. is where I wanted to stay, I made that clear to my agent, but we had backup plans with other teams. Meetings setup and stuff like that. My agent and Mitch called me that first day and we agreed on that offer that I felt was something I was satisfied with and something the Lakers were happy with then we might as well sign it and get it done as opposed to going and looking somewhere else.

I was actually in Las Vegas when I got the call at a good friend of mine’s bachelor party. We were all packing up, getting ready to get on a plane to fly back home when I talked to Mitch and my agent. We ended up cancelling our flights and staying for an extra night. It ended up being a pretty fun evening.

How do you think this contract changes your role with the team?
I don’t think the contract changes my role much. We agreed on a contract because they like what I do and what I bring to the table. Obviously I’m still working out, working on my game, and trying to get better. I’ll keep doing the things I do well to help the team win. As far as personally, it takes a lot of stress off you. When you’re playing in a free agent year you get worried about every time you have a bad game and it starts messing with your head. Now I know I still have to perform, but now I just go out there and do what I need to do. It’s nice to have the security of knowing that I’ll be here in LA and playing for this team that I want to play for.

Do you take on more of a leadership role now that you have this long-term deal?
Absolutely. I absolutely do.

It’s been the same at every level. In College my freshman/sophomore year I was more of a role player, but by the time I was a Junior I was a leader. It was the same way in High School and it’s going to be the same way now.

I think the first couple years you learn how to play at this level. You apply your game and the more you play the more you become a leader and the more the younger kids look to you for information and for leadership. So I’ll definitely make it more of a point to be a leader out there this year.

Last year you worked on your outside shooting a lot, what have you been focusing on this summer?
That’s what I’ve been working on this summer too, mainly my shot. The type of team we are, with the offense we play, you’re going to get a lot of open shots so that’s the main thing I’ve been working on. I’ve also been out there running and lifting weights.

The way I play I try to have a complete game so I kind of try to work on everything and bring it to the court. So it’s not just one thing, but shooting has been the focus.

Any lingering effects from last season’s ankle injury?
No the ankle’s great. It just needed some time off to get strong again. Now that it’s had that proper rest I don’t even think about it anymore.

What does it mean to have Derek Fisher back?
Fish is great. He’s gonna be so big for us. Talk about leadership, that’s another huge thing right there. He’s got the respect of everyone in this league, he’s won championships and he knows how to play the triangle offense already. Just playing with him these last couple days is great. Just knowing you’ve got someone like that playing with you.

Were you contacted by the University of Arizona about making that $3.5 million donation?
No way. They were looking for one player to do it and get the naming rights. I think it was down to Richard (Jefferson), Gilbert (Arenas), and Jason Terry.

What’s your take on the Gilbert v. Richard feud?
Oh it’s funny man. It’s been going on since college. It’s all fun and games when you know them. It gets a little much when we’re all together because no else gets a word in besides the two of them.