EL SEGUNDO, Calif. _ Luke Walton is old enough to make jokes in front of Los Angeles Lakers President Jeanie Buss and doctors from UCLA, and just young enough to connect with the Lakers' young core of players.
"I had a long speech written out," the 36-year-old Lakers coach said Wednesday at a news conference to announce naming rights for the team's new practice facility in El Segundo. "But then I saw that you guys invited seven of my players, and I know that they can't be in the gym working until we finish here. So I'm going to keep it short."
The audience laughed, including D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and 2016 first-round pick Brandon Ingram.
Walton said he was pleased with how Russell, Ingram, Larry Nance Jr. and second-round pick Ivica Zubac played in summer league. He's also excited about the signing of free agents Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov.
Since leaving the Golden State Warriors, where he was an assistant under coach Steve Kerr for two seasons, Walton has been encouraged by the energy he's seen on the Lakers' practice court.
"They're playing great, the young guys have been coming in every day and working out," he said. "They seem to enjoy playing together, they're moving the ball, which is all you can really ask for in the summertime."
Walton hopes to infuse his Lakers offense with the same unselfishness and quick ball movement he helped teach with the Warriors.
During the off-season the Warriors added former most valuable player Kevin Durant, who joins Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, which would seem to put its ball-sharing style in jeopardy.
Walton said that won't be the case.
"They'll be fine, with the way that they play and the way Steve coaches," Walton said. "The ball moves and whoever is open is going to shoot it. It's not going to be taking turns and going iso. It's going to be a lot of ball movement with a lot of good players."
Randle, a third-year power forward, cut his right hand during a workout Monday. He was driving toward the basket when a teammate reached in and sliced open the webbing between his middle and ring fingers, Walton said.
The wound required seven stitches and Randle wore a bandage on the hand Wednesday, but Walton said he was cleared to shoot later in the day.
