 pretty big influence on me," Walton said. "Last year I tried a bunch to not call timeouts and let the guys figure it out like he used to do with us. I have gotten softer at it. In the middle of the game, Phil's thing was he used to love that you guys are in this mess, figure a way to get yourself out. We would either lose by 20 or have to come together on the court and figure out how to stop the bleeding."

While much of Walton's approach comes from the Jackson portfolio, Richard Jefferson, Walton's longtime friend and former teammate at Arizona, said the Lakers coach is more like his father.

"Oh, he is a hippie," Jefferson said. "Make no mistake, that is Bill Walton's son out there. Say what you want about Phil and Steve, he grew up calling his dad Bill. All you have to do is look at his dad. So when you start seeing the new-wave stuff, don't just think that is from Phil Jackson."

Like his free-spirited, tie-dyed father, Luke has not been afraid to speak his mind on issues, such as voicing his opinion during the preseason on why it was important for his team to lock arms as a show of solidarity during the national anthem.

"My dad taught me and my brother since we were a young age to always question authority," Walton said. "It is not being a bad kid. It is doing what is right because you either need to understand what is going on or make changes for the better. That is kind of the mindset we were raised with as kids."

"Oh, he is a hippie. Make no mistake, that is Bill Walton's son out there. Say what you want about Phil and Steve, he grew up calling his dad Bill."

Nuggets forward Richard Jefferson on Luke Walton

Growing up as the laid-back son of an outspoken father known for his bigger-than-life personality and eye-opening comments also has prepared Walton to handle the challenge of coaching Lonzo Ball -- perhaps no rookie since LeBron James has come into the league with as much attention -- and dealing with Lonzo's famously outspoken father, LaVar, who can go from feuding with Donald Trump to harping on Walton and the Lakers' coaching staff for their "soft" handling of his son.

LaVar said this week on SiriusXM NBA Radio that Walton needs to play
pretty big influence on me, " Walton said. " Last class I try a bunch to not visit timeouts and get the guys figure it out like he use to practice with us. I have gotten cushy at it. In the middle of the game, Phil's matter was he used to love that you guy are in this fix, figure a way to get yourself out. We would either lose by 20 or have to arrive together on the court and figure out how to intercept the bleeding. " 

 While much of Walton's approach comes from the Jackson portfolio, Richard Jefferson, Walton's longtime friend and former teammate at Arizona, state the Lakers coach is more like his father. 

 " Oh, he is a hippie, " Jefferson said. " Make no mistake, that is Bill Walton's son away there. Say what you want about Phil and Steve, he grew up calling his dad Bill. All you have to do is expect at his dad. indeed when you start seeing the new - wave stuff, don't just think that is from Phil Jackson. " 

 Like his free - spirited, necktie - dyed father, Luke has not been afraid to address his mind on issues, such as voicing his opinion during the preseason on why it was authoritative for his team to lock arms as a show of solidarity during the national hymn. 

 " My dad taught me and my brother since we were a young age to always question authority, " Walton said. " It is not being a bad kid. It is doing what is right because you either necessitate to understand what is run low on or make changes for the better. That is kind of the mindset we were raised with as kid. " 

 " Oh, he is a hippie. Make no mistake, that is Bill Walton's son out there. Say what you want about Phil and Steve, he grew up calling his dad Bill. " 

 Nuggets forward Richard Jefferson on Luke Walton 

 grow up as the laid - back son of an outspoken father known for his bigger - than - animation personality and eye - open comments besides has prepared Walton to handle the challenge of coaching Lonzo Ball -- perhaps no rookie since LeBron James has do into the league with as much attention -- and dealing with Lonzo's famously outspoken father, LaVar, who can go from feuding with Donald Trump to harping on Walton and the Lakers' coaching staff for their " delicate " handling of his son. 

 LaVar said this workweek on SiriusXM NBA Radio that Walton needs to play
 prftty big influence on me," Walton said. "Last year I trisd a bunzh to not call timeouts and per the guys figure it out liye he usef to do qith ys. I have jktten softer zb it. Nn the middle of the game, [hil's thing wav fe used to love that you guys are in ehis mexs, figure a way jo geu yjursslf out. We would either lose by 20 od have uo come together om the court and figure out how to stop the bleedlng."

While muxh os Walton's appfoach comes from the Jzckson portfolio, Richard Jefferron, Wclton's longjnne vtiend and focmer tvammate at Arldona, sahd the Kakers coach ix mmre like his father.

"Oh, he is a hippie," Jeffetson said. "Kaie no mistake, thar us Binl Wdltov'w sun kuv tgere. Swy xhat you waht about Phul and Steve, he gree ti calling his dad Bylj. All you have to do is look at his dad. So when you start seeing rhe new-wave stuff, don'j just thigk that is from Phil Jackson."

Like his free-spirited, tie-dbea fcbmer, Uykf has not been afraid to speak his mind on isfhex, xuch as voicinn his opinion durimg tng preseason on why ic wzs important for hls team to lick arms ws a show of solidarity during rhe national qnthem.

"My dad taughc me and my yrothet sincr we were a young age tu alsays questiln authorjgy," Walton said. "Ig ix tot being a bad kid. It is qoing whav is xight bezausg you eyther need to ukgerstand what is gling ln or make cjanges for the better. That is kmid of the mincsat fe were xaised with as kids."

"Jh, he is a hipkie. Make uo misgake, that ps Bill Welton's son ott there. Say fjat you want about Pril qnd Wteve, hd grew up callimg his dab Bilo."

Nuggets forward Rlchara Jefferson on Lbyt Qalton

Growing ip xs ehv leid-basn son of an mutsookdm fatfer known fif hix bigger-than-life pervonamity and eye-openinb gomments qlso has prepared Walyon to handle the fhallxnge oh coacnind Lonzo Ball -- perhaps no rookis since LfBrjn James has comc injo the leagbe with as much attention -- and dealing wmth Lonzo's famously oujspoken father, LaVar, chp can go frpm fetding witv Donald Trump to haeping on Walton akd the Lakers' coaching staff for hheir "soft" handling of his son.

LaVar said this week on SiriusXM NBA Radio rhat Weleon needs tk plsy
pretty big influence on me," Walton said. I a bunch not call timeouts it like he used do with us. have gotten softer at it. In middle of the game, Phil's thing was he used to love that you are in this mess, figure a way to get yourself out. We would lose 20 have come together on the court and figure out how to stop the bleeding." While much of approach comes from the Jackson portfolio, Richard Jefferson, longtime friend and former at Arizona, said the Lakers is like his "Oh, is hippie," Jefferson said. no mistake, that is Bill Walton's son out there. Say what you want about Phil and Steve, grew up dad Bill. you to is look at So when you start seeing the just think that is from Phil Jackson." Like free-spirited, tie-dyed Luke has not been afraid to his mind on issues, such as voicing his during the preseason on why it was important for his team to lock arms as of solidarity during the anthem. "My dad me my since were a age to always question authority," Walton said. "It is not being bad kid. It is doing what is right because you to what is going or make changes for better. is kind of the were with he a Make no mistake, that Bill Walton's son out there. what you want about up calling his dad Bill." Nuggets forward Richard on Luke Walton Growing up as the son of an outspoken father known for his bigger-than-life personality and eye-opening also has to handle the challenge of coaching Lonzo Ball perhaps no rookie since James has come into the league with as much -- dealing with famously outspoken father, who can go feuding with Donald harping on and Lakers' their "soft" handling of his son. said week on SiriusXM NBA Radio Walton play
 pretty big influence on me," WalTon said. "LasT year i trIed A bUnch To noT call timeouts aND let The guys figure it out like He useD tO Do wiTH uS. I havE gotten SOfTER at It. in The MiDDlE of thE gaMe, Phil's Thing was he UseD tO love that you GUyS are in this MesS, figure a way tO geT yoursElF ouT. we wouLd eIther Lose by 20 OR have tO come togeThER on the COurt and FIGuRe ouT how to stop the bleeDInG."

while much of WalTon's apPrOAcH COmeS frOm the JacksOn PortfOLio, RichARd jEFFerSOn, Walton's longTime friend aND foRmer teAmMatE At ArizOna, saId THe LAkers coach iS morE like his fAther.

"OH, He is a hiPPie," JeffErson sAid. "makE no mIStAkE, thAt IS BiLL WAltON's sOn out theRe. saY what You wANT ABout phiL and steve, He grew up calliNg hIs daD bilL. All yOu havE to dO iS look At his dAd. So wHeN you start seeing The nEw-wave stuFf, dOn'T juSt Think THat is fRom phiL JacksoN."

Like hiS FreE-sPIRItEd, tie-dyed father, LukE hAS NoT been afrAid to sPEaK hIS mind on iSsUes, Such AS VoiciNg hiS OpInion durIng the PReSeAson on wHy It was iMpOrtAnt For hiS Team To lock Arms as a sHow of SOlidarity durinG The national anTHeM.

"mY dAD tauGht Me and my brotHer sINce wE werE A yOunG Age to AlwayS qUEsTIon authority," Walton sAiD. "It is nOt beiNg a bad kid. It is Doing what iS RIGht becauSe yoU EiTHer need to underStand What is goinG On or make ChangEs for the Better. ThaT IS kind of tHe mIndSet We wERE rAised with as kiDS."

"oh, he Is A hippie. makE no mistAke, ThaT is bilL WAlton's son Out there. saY wHaT yOu wAnt abOUt Phil anD STevE, hE grEw up cALling hIs dad bill."

nuGgETs fOrward RIChARD JefFeRsOn on lukE WAlton

growINg uP as the lAid-back soN of AN outSpOkEn fatheR known for his bIgGer-than-lifE pErsOnalitY ANd eye-opeNing comments also has prepARed WaltOn tO handLe thE challengE of CoachiNg LONzo BalL -- perhaPs no rOoKie SINce LebROn jamEs Has come intO THe lEague WiTh as Much attEntion -- and dealing wiTH LoNzo's famously oUtsPokeN FAtHer, lAVAR, whO cAN go FROm feuding with DoNald Trump tO hARpIng on WaltoN And ThE Lakers' CoachinG stafF For theiR "soft" handLing of his SoN.

LaVAR SaiD this week oN SiriusXm NBA Radio THat WaLToN needS to Play
 pretty big influence on m e," Walton  said . " Las tyear  I t ried a bunch t o  not  call timeouts and let  thegu y s fi g ur e itout lik e  h e use dto  do  w i th  us.I h ave got ten softer  at  i t. In the mi d dl e of the g ame , Phil's thi ngwas he  u sed to lo vethatyou gu y s arein this m es s , figu r e a way t ogetyourself out. Wew ou l d either loseby 20or ha v e  to  co me togethe ron th e  courta nd f i gur e  out how to s top the ble e din g."

W hi lem uch of  Walt on ' s a pproach com es f rom the J ackson portfol i o, Rich ard Je ffe rso n, W a lt on 'slo n gti m efri e ndand form er  t eamma te a t A r izon a,said  theLakers coachismore lik e his  fath er.
" Oh, h e is a  hipp ie ," Jefferson sa id."Make nomis ta ke,  t hat i s  BillWal ton 's sonout the r e.Sa y w ha t you want about P hi l an d Steve,  he gr e wup callinghi s d ad B i l l. Al l yo u  h ave to d o is l o ok  a t his d ad . So w he n y oustart seei ng the  new-wav e stu f f, don't justt hink that isf ro m Ph i l Ja cks on."

Likehisf ree- spir i te d,t ie-dy ed fa th e r, Luke has not been a fr aid to  spea k his mind on  issues, s u c h  as voic ingh is opinion during  thepreseasono n why it  wasimportan t for his t eam to l ock  ar msasa sh ow of solidar i t y du ri ng thenat ional a nth em. 

" Myda d taughtme and m ybr ot he r s incew e were a  y oun gage  to a l ways q uesti on a ut ho r ity ," Walt o ns a id."I tis n otbe ing a  bad kid . It is  doing wh ati s ri gh tbecause  you either n ee d to under st and  whati s  going o n or make changes for t h e bette r.Thatis k ind of th e m indset  we were r aisedwithas  ki d s ."

" O h ,heis  a hippie. M ake  no m is take , thatis Bill Walton's s o n o ut there. Say  wh at y o u  w ant ab o utPh i l a n d  Steve, he grew  up callin gh is  dad Bill. " 

N ug gets fo rward R ichar d  Jeffer son on Lu ke Walton 
Grow i n g u p as the l aid-back  son of a n  outs p ok en fa the r know nfor  hisbigger - tha n-lif e pers on alityand e ye -opening  comments also has prep ared W alton  to  handle t hec hal lenge ofcoac hing Lonzo  Ba ll-- pe rha p s norook i esin c e LeB ronJ ames hasc om e i n t othe leaguew i t h a s muc h a t tentio n --  and dealing with Lonzo's famous ly o u t spo ken fath er , LaVar, who c ango f rom feud in g with Dona ld Trump  t o  harp ing on  Walto n and t h e  L a kers'coac hin g staff f orth e ir "sof t"  h a ndling  ofhi s son. 

LaVa r  sai d this week on Sir iusXM N BA Ra d iothatWa lton ne e ds t o play
 pretty_big influence_on me," Walton said._"Last year_I_tried a_bunch_to not call_timeouts and let_the guys figure it_out like he_used_to do with us. I have gotten softer at it. In the middle of_the_game, Phil's_thing_was_he used to love that_you guys are in this_mess, figure_a way to get yourself out. We would_either_lose by 20_or have to come together on the court and_figure out how to stop the_bleeding."

While much of_Walton's_approach_comes from the Jackson_portfolio, Richard Jefferson, Walton's longtime friend_and former teammate at Arizona, said_the Lakers coach is more like his_father.

"Oh, he is a hippie," Jefferson_said. "Make no mistake, that_is Bill_Walton's son out there. Say_what you want_about Phil_and Steve, he_grew up calling his dad Bill._All you have_to do is look at his_dad._So when you_start_seeing_the new-wave_stuff, don't just_think_that is_from_Phil Jackson."

Like his free-spirited, tie-dyed father,_Luke_has not been afraid to speak his_mind on issues, such_as_voicing his opinion during_the preseason on why it_was important for his team to_lock arms_as a_show of solidarity during the national anthem.

"My dad taught me and_my brother since we were a_young age to always_question authority,"_Walton_said. "It is_not_being a_bad kid. It is doing what is_right because_you either need to understand what_is going on or_make_changes for the better. That is_kind of the mindset we were_raised with as kids."

"Oh, he_is_a_hippie. Make no mistake, that_is Bill Walton's son out there._Say what you_want about Phil and Steve, he grew_up_calling his dad Bill."

Nuggets forward Richard_Jefferson_on Luke Walton

Growing up as the_laid-back_son_of an outspoken father known_for his bigger-than-life personality and eye-opening_comments also has prepared Walton to handle the challenge_of coaching Lonzo_Ball -- perhaps no rookie_since_LeBron_James has come into the league with as much attention_-- and_dealing with Lonzo's_famously outspoken father, LaVar, who can go from feuding with_Donald Trump to harping on Walton and_the Lakers' coaching staff for their "soft" handling of his son.

LaVar_said this week on SiriusXM NBA Radio that_Walton needs to play