Coaching a generational talent like LeBron James with the expectations that come with being a part of the Los Angeles Lakers will present its fair share of challenges for Luke Walton, which is why he's reached out to those who've worked with and alongside the King for their words of wisdom.
It had previously been reported that Walton was set to meet for dinner with Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue on Monday to discuss the four-time league MVP. It looks like the two set up a breakfast meeting instead, with Brian Shaw - Walton's associate head coach with the Lakers and a former teammate of Lue's - joining them, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
"My thing, I just want to let him know, the s--- that people say and you read, Bron's not like that," Lue told McMenamin. "Like, they make it seem like he's hard on the coach, he's hard on (the organization). He's nothing like that. That's the most important thing I want to convey with him that he's not like that.
"My biggest thing is the zoo comes from just the outside media. It's really not coming from within because everybody he deals with - Maverick (Carter), Randy (Mims), all those guys - are professional. So it won't be no problem from any of those guys and Bron carries himself the right way. So, the biggest part is just having to deal with the media scrutiny. But he's not like that. I don't want people thinking Bron's an a--hole or Bron's this and that, because he's not."
Along with Lue, Walton has reportedly discussed James with Erik Spoelstra, who coached James to two championships with the Miami Heat. Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson - members of the '16 Cavaliers title team - have also reportedly had their brains picked by Walton, who "came away thoroughly impressed by what they had to say."
"Everybody LeBron has been around he's helped and made better," added Lue. "From his family, to his friends, organizations - Miami's organization; Cleveland's organization - the city of Cleveland, the city of Miami, coaching staffs, players. Just think about it, everybody he's been around for his 15 years, he's made better. ... He's been a big part of who I am."
