National Basketball Association

Lakers coach Luke Walton: I'll only talk trash to one Warriors player

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:56 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers are in Las Vegas as they prepare for their preseason matchup on Saturday, which doubles as Luke Walton's first game against his former Golden State colleagues.

Asked whether he'll look to engage in a little friendly banter with the Warriors, with whom Walton served as an assistant from 2014 until this summer, the Lakers head coach said that there's only one person he'd considering trash-talking:

Via ESPN.com:

“Maybe between me and Draymond [Green], but not between Steve [Kerr] and I,” Walton said with a smile.

Any trick plays?

“No,” Walton said before pausing.

He then added, “Well, maybe one or two.”

This shouldn't come as any surprise; even when Walton took over as interim head coach for the Warriors last season, he told reporters that trash talk is part of his approach to the game:

“Draymond plays better when you talk trash to him. It’s not like if I talk trash to him he’ll go into a shell and can never make a shot because I talked trash to him. I talk trash to him to get him to play better, play more efficient, and it works with him.”

In that case, maybe talking to Green isn't the best idea — unless Walton's trying to goad the Warriors forward into taking over the game, getting the ball out of the hands of guys like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson. We see you, Luke.

And not to go full grammar-nerd on you, but Walton's change in syntax and diction is fascinating. When talking about a player, Walton went with "me and Draymond"; when referencing a coach, Walton's brain switched it up to "Steve and I."

It's probably meaningless — a subconscious choice in the normal flow of conversation. Regardless, you should fully expect Green and Walton to engage in a bit of jawing at some point. That's just the way things work when Walton's around.