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Lakers head coach Luke Walton beneficial for Arizona Basketball

By Shereen Rayan

November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (right) talks to guard Leandro Barbosa (19) and guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (right) talks to guard Leandro Barbosa (19) and guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The new Lakers head coach Luke Walton brings Arizona Wildcats closer to the Lakers Organization, also, Walton will bring the NBA closer to Arizona Basketball.

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The news broke last Friday during the USC vs. Arizona Wildcats baseball game, when Pac-12 and Wildcat announcers alike were beaming with pride after hearing yet another Arizona Wildcat, Luke Walton, landed a huge and visible job in professional sports.

NBA Champion Luke Walton’s ties run deep in Arizona Wildcats history. Luke was part of the 2001 Tournament team which played under head coach Lute Olson in the NCAA Championship finals. This accomplishment will forever go down in the program’s illustrious history, and is touted as a huge accomplishment before every Arizona basketball game at McKale Center in Tucson.

When Luke Walton shows up at an Arizona basketball game, like he did with his family this past March in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 tournament, he is greeted by all Wildcats fans chanting “Luuuuuuukkkkkkkkkeeeeeeee” in a very deep voice. You can tell how much Wildcats fans love him because these same fans welcome our beloved hall of fame coach Lute Olson the exact same way.

May 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Former college basketball coach Lute Olson smiles before a press conference for Steve Kerr (not pictured) as the new head coach for the Golden State Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sportsway, “Luuuuuuuttttttteeeeee.” Luke and Lute have a very close relationship, the same as he has with Golden State Warriors head coach and the NBA’s Coach of the Year Steve Kerr.
May 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Former college basketball coach Lute Olson smiles before a press conference for Steve Kerr (not pictured) as the new head coach for the Golden State Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sportsway, “Luuuuuuuttttttteeeeee.” Luke and Lute have a very close relationship, the same as he has with Golden State Warriors head coach and the NBA’s Coach of the Year Steve Kerr. /

The first person Steve Kerr thanked after winning the NBA Championship last season, was his college coach and mentor Lute Olson. Olson returned the favor, showing up to surprise Kerr at the NBA Coach of the Year Award press conference last week. In fact, Lute shows up for a lot of the Golden State Warriors games in support of one of his protegé’s. Lute also encouraged Walton to take the Lakers job. So we can expect much of the same attention for Walton.

Bottom line, relationships and ties to the Arizona Wildcats do matter in professional sports, and Luke has a ready-made support system in place outside of the Lakers front office. This should help Sean Miller in recruiting players to play for him down the road. There are now two former Arizona Wildcats with jobs as head coach in the NBA.

Relationships matter: When Steve Kerr sat down to talk to his fellow Arizona Alum Andre Iguodala about coming off the bench and not starting, it was a Wildcat to Wildcat discussion. You have to think the conversation would have gone a little differently if Andre’ didn’t look up to his fellow Wildcats legend Steve Kerr.

Hopefully, both coaches will encourage their scouts to at least not count out Arizona players.

Here are some ways Luke’s ties to the Arizona Wildcats can help A Players Program:

  1. Luke can help Sean Miller recruit, now the Lakers head coach, young at that, recruits will be interested in talking to him.
  2. Wildcats royalty will want Luke to do well, including Miles Simon, and Sean Elliott, who are now all Sports Broadcasters. Hopefully, with Walton as head coach, that will allow for even more publicity for Arizona Basketball.
  3. Wildcats on other teams may want to play for Luke such as rising NBA Stars Solomon Hill (set to be a Free Agent this summer), 2016 NBA Dunk runner-up Aaron Gordon, recent playoff sensation Stanley Johnson, hilariously talented Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, or even veterans like the Cavs’ Richard Jefferson or the Rockets Jason ‘The Jet’ Terry. We have seen on the Golden State Warriors how Wildcats ties helped the team be cohesive.
  4. Arizona Basketball has landed four five-star commit’s this year which most likely will be one-and-dones. Head coach Sean Miller has landed Rawle Alkins, Terrance Ferguson, Kobi Simmons and big man Lauri Markkanen from Norway. So new ties in the NBA will form for Walton, helping him connect with his fellow young and talented Wildcats down the road. Maybe even help them as they navigate into the NBA.

Arizona is known as a basketball school, and the teams over the years have most always been a contender in the NCAA tournament. Maybe it won’t be a huge factor, but in the NBA as it is in any business, relationships matter.

More wildcats: Lakers: Luke Walton Speaks About Landing Job in LA

Lakers fans got themselves a coach who comes from a storied program, and whose alumni are very tight knit. Also, Wildcats fans are very loyal. One of our own just got one of the best jobs anyone could ever earn, head coach of The Los Angeles Lakers. That has to help at least with the programs credibility! BearDown Arizona!

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