STUDENT COUNSEL
L.A.’s Walton still gets advice from mentor Jackson
LOS ANGELES — Is Phil Jackson already assuming the role of Lakers consultant?
Lakers rookie head coach Luke Walton admits he’s been in contact with Jackson from time to time to get advice — including right after he got the job last spring and as recently as three weeks ago.
Walton is one of Jackson’s favorite Lakers players he ever coached and was his first choice to coach the Knicks.
“I’ve definitely reached out to him about different things,’’ Walton said at Staples Center before the Knicks beat the Lakers 117-112 on Sunday night.
On what topic?
“On how to coach,’’ Walton said only halffacetiously. “When I call him now, instead of random check-ins, it’s about specific things. I try to get his opinion on how he thinks I should handle something on getting better at certain things, just picking his brain. So far he’s batting 100 percent.”
It’s not unusual for friendly competitors to seek advice. Carmelo Anthony has asked Kobe Bryant advice on how to deal with Jackson for years. But it does lend itself to wonder how easily Jackson could fit into a Lakers’ position next season if Jackson and owner James Dolan mutually agree to part ways. Jeanie Buss is the Lakers president and Jackson’s fiancée.
Walton, whose Lakers are 10-15 entering Sunday, was the first one Jackson called when he began his coaching search in April. Walton wasn’t willing to move forward as his Warriors, with whom he was an assistant coach, were in the first round of the playoffs on their way to The Finals.
“Obviously you consider any job,’’ Walton said. “The Knicks are one of the big-time franchises in this league. Where I was at the time, still being in the playoffs with the Warriors, there was never any detailed: ‘Let’s have a conversation and talk about it.’ Obviously as a 36-year-old coach, if anyone shows interest, you entertain it.’’
“I’d love to go to a dinner with Phil,” Walton added. “I’d change my whole schedule for it.”
Jackson dropped by Knicks practice at USC on Saturday to lead his weekly “mindfulness’’ sessions he started employing in 2014-15. Jackson used to have meditation guru George Mumford run it, but this season he is doing it.
Derrick Rose said during the meditation verses, Jackson mentioned to the players to look out for Lakers backup guard Lou Williams, who has scored 35 points twice this week. Rose said it was the first time Jackson has brought up a player during meditation.
Walton said he enjoyed Jackson’s meditation methods as a player and does it himself, but not yet with the Lakers. He plans on using it in the future or maybe Jackson can be hired to run the sessions next season.
As for Jackson criticizing Anthony’s holding-on-to-the-ball-too-long style, creating a new soap opera, Walton said it’s Phil being Phil.
“He’s been saying stuff that gets people upset since I’ve known him,’’ Walton said. “It doesn’t surprise me. I wish I knew [why he does it]. Phil’s a unique individual that does a lot of things people don’t understand, but he normally has a pretty good reason and purpose behind stuff.”
Kristaps Porzingis, who broke out of his five-game shooting slump, said he has not had an MRI on the so-called “catch in his knee.”
“It’s nothing serious,’’ Porzingis said before scoring 26 points against the Lakers. “The moment it happened, it slowly grew a little bit, the pain. The same way I’m trying to get rid of it, slowly. I think it started in practice, just randomly. One wrong movement, a little pinch in my knee. I don’t know how to explain it. Whenever I put my knee in a certain position I get a little bit of that pinch in the muscle. But then again, [they] foam roll that muscle real hard and the pain disappears.’’
Kyle O’Quinn missed his first game with a sprained ankle suffered in the third quarter in Sacramento on Friday, stepping on DeMarcus Cousins’ foot.