Jason Terry Says Luke Walton Turned Down His Pitch To Join Lakers

NBA vet Jason Terry recently inked a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Before signing with the team, Terry said he reached out to multiple contenders. One of the teams he contacted about his services was the Los Angeles Lakers.

Terry said the pitch to his good friend Luke Walton was based on the veteran leadership he has to offer teams. Luke apparently said thanks but we’re good homie.

Per SiriusXM NBA Radio (via Lakers Nation):

“I called my good friend Luke [Walton],” Terry said. “I told him if he needed any help- veteran leadership, in that capacity, with an ability to coach at the end of my deal, then that was something I would be looking forward to. He utterly declined, and I respect him for that.”

The 38-year-old guard landed in Milwaukee, and wants to provide the young Bucks team with that guidance.

Per the Journal Sentinel:

Terry believes his 17 years in the NBA will translate into a mentoring role with the young Bucks seeking a bounce-back season in 2016-’17.“I think it’s very important,” Terry said in an interview after signing a one-year deal to rejoin former Dallas Mavericks teammate Jason Kidd, entering his third season as the Bucks coach. […] If you look at all playoff and championship teams, they have solid veteran guys to steer the ship. There are going to be times during the season when the coach’s voice, some of the young guys get tired of hearing it. That’s when the veteran leadership steps in and says, ‘No, we’re not going to go away from the ship. We’re going to continue to follow the right direction.’”

Terry is certainly making use of his connections. In addition to Terry and Kidd’s time together on the Mavs in 2011, Terry was also on the Nets roster in Brooklyn during Kidd’s first year as a pro coach in 2013-’14.

photo via Twitter