Luke Walton
Luke Walton
 |
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| Position | Small forward |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Weight | 232 lb (105.2 kg) |
| League | NBA |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Jersey | #4 |
| Born | March 28, 1980 San Diego, California |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | University of San Diego |
| College | Arizona |
| Draft | 2nd round, 32nd overall, 2003 Los Angeles Lakers |
| Pro career | 2003–present |
| Official profile | Info Page |
Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28, 1980) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His position is at small forward.
Biography
Early life
Born in San Diego, California as the son of former NBA great Bill Walton, Luke Walton was no stranger to the sport of basketball during his upbringing. Walton was named after his Bill's close friend and former Portland Trail Blazers teammate Maurice Lucas. His three brothers — Adam, Nathan (who unsuccessfully ran for governor during the 2003 California recall), and Chris — also play or have played basketball for their schools. He went to Shady Hill School (in Cambridge, Massachusetts) while his father was playing for the Boston Celtics.
College
After graduating from University of San Diego High School in 1998, Walton enrolled at the University of Arizona and majored in family studies. 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.
NBA career
His passing skills brought him great success in the triangle offense under coach Phil Jackson. Some critics, however, believe Walton's tendency to pass rather than shoot occasionally hampers his team's offense. On occasion, he has declined to shoot an open shot even in the crucial waning seconds of a game, choosing instead to pass, despite there not being enough time remaining for his teammate to receive the pass and attempt the needed shot.
Walton suffered an injury in the 2004 preseason and was unable to find a place in Rudy Tomjanovich'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, and Luke was widely regarded as the most improved player on the Lakers roster. Following the season, on July 12, 2007, Walton was signed to a 6-year, $30 million contract, based partly on the potential shown from the preceding season.
Subsequently, Walton has struggled greatly in the 2007-08 regular season (despite a stellar pre-season). In addition to suffering several injuries, Walton's per game statistics have dipped from the previous season in every category, from minutes played, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage (career low), steals, blocks, rebounds, assists, and points. His PER is also at a career low. In addition, Walton has featured prominently in several embarrassing plays, including the Lakers' opening game of the 2007-08 regular season against the Houston Rockets. Walton inadvertently knocked a defensive rebound into his own basket.[1] The Rockets won 95-93. Nonetheless, he has still been an effective bench player during the Lakers '07/'08 playoff run.
Player profile
Walton has been praised for being skilled in the fundamentals of basketball: positioning, timing, and teamwork. Many NBA experts and enthusiasts view Walton as a smart player of the game who has a high basketball IQ and one who understands the game of basketball deeply. In the past, he has shown precise passing skills, with the know-how to operate on plays like a point guard. He is also considered as an all-around player. Aside from guard-like passing skills, in the 06-07 regular season, he showed the ability to stretch his range past the three-point line, rebounded well, and works hard to disprove the critics who doubted his athleticism. In the current season, he appears to have taken a step back in these same skills, as well as in field goal percentage.
Personal life
Walton owns a restaurant, Joey's Smokin' BBQ, located in Manhattan Beach, California.[2] On his right arm, there is a tattoo of four dancing skeletons, each one with a basketball. The four skeletons represent the four Walton sons: Adam, Luke, Nate and Chris. The dancing skeletons are synonymous with The Grateful Dead. Walton says he is the bottom skeleton, supporting his three brothers.
In 2006, Walton made a cameo appearance on the television soap opera, The Young and the Restless.[3]
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | L.A. Lakers | 72 | 2 | 10.1 | .425 | .333 | .705 | 1.8 | 1.6 | .4 | .1 | 2.4 |
| 2004–05 | L.A. Lakers | 61 | 5 | 12.6 | .411 | .262 | .708 | 2.3 | 1.5 | .4 | .2 | 3.2 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 69 | 6 | 19.3 | .412 | .327 | .750 | 3.6 | 2.3 | .6 | .2 | 5.0 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Lakers | 60 | 60 | 33.0 | .474 | .387 | .745 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 11.4 |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Lakers | 74 | 31 | 23.4 | .450 | .333 | .706 | 3.9 | 2.9 | .8 | .2 | 7.2 |
| Career | 336 | 104 | 19.5 | .444 | .339 | .727 | 3.3 | 2.5 | .6 | .2 | 5.8 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | L.A. Lakers | 17 | 0 | 7.9 | .345 | .385 | .700 | 1.3 | 1.5 | .4 | .1 | 1.9 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 7 | 7 | 33.6 | .458 | .364 | 1.000 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .1 | 12.1 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Lakers | 5 | 5 | 25.6 | .389 | .417 | .750 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | .2 | 7.2 |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Lakers | 21 | 0 | 16.8 | .454 | .423 | .722 | 2.6 | 2.0 | .5 | .2 | 6.0 |
| Career | 50 | 12 | 17.0 | .433 | .403 | .745 | 2.9 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | 5.6 |
Notes
- ↑ Courtside: Victory on training wheels: Rockets 95, Lakers 93
- ↑ http://www.joeyssmokinbbq.com/investor_ops.php
- ↑ SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports - Walton to make acting debut on 'Young and Restless'
External links
- NBA.com Profile - Luke Walton
- Luke Walton Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com
- NBA & College statistics @ BasketballReference.com
- - Luke Walton talks about his love for paintball and surfing
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|||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Walton, Luke Theodore |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Professional basketball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 28 1980 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | San Diego, California |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
History
View article history
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