In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency on July 1, Lakers head coach Luke Walton is already thinking about what it will be like to have LeBron James on his team. Not because he loves fantasy, nor because of the rampant rumors, but because he must complete the head coach's part in the group report given to James.
In the past two years, Walton has served as head coach with completely different responsibilities and work models. The task for these two years has been to develop the Lakers' young players and create winning habits and culture. Starting from scratch has always been hard, unglamorous work, but when the moment of breaking out of the cocoon became a fact rather than a hypothesis, Walton learned to enjoy the process.
If he had to convince James, it would be to tell him what he believed in as a coach and pray that James would accept the team. If Mus asked for more details, he prepared some tactical routines and basic concepts of execution on the court, but he didn't think he would have the opportunity to talk about these parts.
"I feel like...X, Muse doesn't want to sit here and listen to stuff like, 'Here are the tactics we can use against you.'"
This is about confidence and vision, not winning or losing interviews on floor moves, and LeBron's decision will completely impact the unfinished business Walton wants to complete for the Lakers.
Two years ago, Walton resigned as the Warriors' top assistant coach, leaving behind what was becoming a dynasty, in order to help rebuild the Lakers. He knew he was walking into a company where the players were of average talent and the management was dysfunctional, but the results were highly anticipated. But he believes to some extent that it's possible for things to get better, and that he has a way to help this team get better.
"From high school, college, and my eight-year playing career with the Lakers, I have always loved the family feeling in the sports circle."
"We won a championship together, and it was this incredible journey that shaped my basketball mindset."
"When I see the Lakers struggling, even if I'm coaching the Warriors, I'm going to be there and wish the Lakers can win."
"So when the opportunity arose to help the team that raised me, I embraced the challenge."
If given the chance, Walton would tell LeBron this little story about his time with the Lakers, but in fact Magic Johnson was the only Lakers staff member who had the opportunity to meet with LeBron before he made his decision. Walton learned on the morning of July 1 that the two of them had completed a good interview a few hours earlier. He didn't ask the senior management too many questions. He knew the importance of confidentiality at this time.
"It's a pretty typical day in Manhattan Beach. I'm coming home from the office, we've opened the pool and are having a Sunday barbecue with some friends and family."
Then there was a phone call that kept ringing. LeBron chose the Lakers.
"I spent about eight and a half hours talking on the phone! I missed my whole Sunday family barbecue." Walton said with a smile. "I also missed the corn hole game. When I put the phone down, the kids We all happened to be ready to go to sleep."
When it finally quieted down, Walton had a chance to think about what had just happened and how it would change his life and the team he had hoped to help return to glory.
There are hundreds of text messages and voice messages waiting for his reply.
Kobe Bryant told him that the most important key to coaching LeBron is to be a listener and be able to complete the work with him, but at the same time, he must also understand what are the most important things and principles for him to play a coaching role, and then Hold it firmly. Just like the way Phil Jackson coached Kobe.
"He said, first of all, you get a different James. What we got 8 years ago was a guy who didn't win a championship." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told him that LeBron would want to know the reasons for every decision of the team. The most important key to coaching him is to keep the lines of communication open. "I'll tell you what, man. LeBron trains extremely hard. He has an extremely high level of knowledge on the court. You always have to be honest and prepared and work hard. As long as you do that, your relationship will be fine. "
"It took me a little effort to understand what he was saying." His father, Bill Walton, called to congratulate him during the performance of the Chinese Death Band's concert.
Deep down, Walton actually knows what changes will happen to the team and what situation the team will face. When he joined the Lakers as a rookie, it happened to be the time when the team found Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who were in their twilight years, and paired them with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe to form the Big Four to challenge for the championship.
Walton has experienced the rise and fall, experienced the separation of the team and O'Neal, and experienced Kobe's trade for me. But he also won a championship with the Lakers later, and he knew that as long as he could win the championship, all this soap opera-like process would be worth it.
"What's coming next is going to be crazy, but it's also going to be great."
"The whole city will be behind us."
"We're going to be on the sports news every night. If we lose it'll be like the end of the world, but if we win it'll be crazy."
"But no matter what, it will be very interesting."
At the end of the day, when the rest of the family was asleep, Walton walked to the poolside and finally had some quiet time to think.
"I sat under the stars and talked to myself."
"Oh my gosh, we got LeBron James on the team."
"The best player in the world is now a Laker."
