D-Fenders Hire Luke Walton as Player Development Coach

Published on November 4, 2013 under NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles D-Fenders have hired Luke Walton as a player development coach, it was announced today by team President/CEO Joey Buss.

"We are very excited to add Luke to our staff," said Buss. "His championship experience will help build upon the winning culture that has been established with the D-Fenders. His extensive and successful NBA career will allow him to instill the work ethic it requires for our players to reach the NBA."

"Luke has been a consummate professional throughout his career," said D-Fenders General Manager Nick Mazzella. "Having played on two Lakers championship teams, Luke is aware of the hard work and type of culture required to win. He will be a valuable mentor to our players and will dedicate himself to improving their basketball skills and advancing their careers. We couldn't be happier to have him join our talented coaching staff."

Walton has spent the last 11 seasons playing in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Most recently, he appeared in 50 games with the Cavaliers during the 2012-13 season. The University of Arizona alumnus was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Lakers and helped lead the team to back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010. Walton has appeared in 564 career regular season games (138 starts), posting averages of 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 17.2 minutes. Walton also served as an assistant coach on the University of Memphis basketball staff during the 2011 NBA lockout.

"I'm thrilled to be returning to the Lakers family," said Walton. "I'm looking forward to working with the staff to develop young talent that can benefit the D-Fenders and the NBA. The D-Fenders have a proven record of developing top-flight players, and I plan to continue that tradition."

Walton, a San Diego native, begins his first season as a player development coach. He is the third addition to Head Coach Bob MacKinnon's staff, joining assistant coaches Casey Owens and Thomas Scott.

###

The NBA Development League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, the first franchise in D-League history to be owned by an NBA team (Los Angeles Lakers), will return for its seventh season of competition in 2013-14. The D-Fenders franchise has quickly established itself as a top producer of NBA-ready talent, totaling 14 NBA Call-Ups and developing 11 Lakers assignment players since the inaugural 2006-07 season. In addition, the D-Fenders became the first team in league history to win the Development Champion award (2011-12), which is an honor given to the team that best embodies the NBA D-League's goals of developing NBA basketball talent via call-ups and assignments.

For the third consecutive season, the D-Fenders will play all home games at Toyota Sports Center, the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo, CA. Information on D-Fenders 2013-14 season ticket packages and single-game tickets can be found by logging onto the team's website (www.d-fenders.com) or by contacting Benny Garcia at (310) 426-6043 / bgarcia@d-fenders.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



NBA G League Stories from November 4, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central