Magic Johnson 'admonished' Lakers coach Luke Walton in meeting

It's all about two weeks for Luke Walton to learn the way to coach LeBron James, the one NBA player who comes away with an unreasonable championship expectation.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson "admonished" Walton for his team's 3-5 start to the season in a meeting on Tuesday, roughly six weeks after get out to a bad start. "

While the ESPN report described Johnson's managerial style as "volatile," it also suggested the legendary-turned-executive Lakers is not one only frustrated with Walton. The coach 's inconsistent lineups have generated "discontent among some Lakers veterans," according to Wojnarowski and McMenamin.

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Is LeBron James among the unhappy Lakers veterans?

James does not appear to be one of them – at least, according to his public statements.

"I think Luke's trying to figure out what works best," he told reporters after Wednesday's narrow victory against the Dallas Mavericks, via ESPN, acknowledging that Lonzo Ball's midsummer knee surgery and early-season suspensions to Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram have precipitated the roster shuffling. .

Still, James knows full well that his presence leaves coaches on shaky ground. Often, he is the direct cause of that instability. Mike Brown (twice) and David Blatt in Cleveland. He unsuccessfully urged Pat Riley to replace Erik Spoelstra in Miami. Former Riders coach Tyronn Lue lived on that shaky ground for the last two years, catering to James' every whim.

Could not Magic Johnson see this coming?

So, it is no surprise that Walton finds himself in the same situation after the Lakers posted the worst record for seven games for any team featuring James since his rookie season. What is perhaps most surprising is that impatience came from Johnson's office, given in September.

"As I was talking to Luke [with GM Rob Pelinka], we said, 'Do not worry about getting off to a bad start,' "Johnson told reporters at media day. "We've seen that with LeBron going to Miami, and we've seen him come back to Cleveland. He is going to struggle because there are so many new moving parts. But eventually we are going to get it, and we are going to be really a good team. "

The Lakers have not been a really good team through two weeks. They started 2-5 before avoiding disastrous collapse Western Conference bottom feeders in Dallas on Wednesday. According to ESPN, that victory would have a positive impact on coaching the Lakers, but the coaching staff was reportedly no longer reluctant to back-to-back against the Portland Trail Blazers. Toronto Raptors this weekend.

Did not Jeanie Buss endorse the coach?

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has been the organization's most vocal supporter of Walton, telling The Los Angeles Times in August, "Luke is a coach that can be part of a long Lakers future." Johnson and Pelinka, on the other hand, Lonzo Ball's father LaVar said publicly last season, "You can see they're not playing for Luke no more," LaVar said. "Luke does not have control over the team no more. They do not want to play for him. "

Walton was hired in 2016 by the previous regime – former president of basketball operations Jim Buss and former GM Mitch Kupchak. Saddled with recent draft picks in need of development by talent-starved veterans, Walton's Lakers won 26 games in his first year on the job and 35 last season. Walton famously coached the Golden State Warriors in Steve Kerr's absence to a 39-4 start in 2015-16.

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