Salpointe Catholic grad Jesse Mermuys relishing role with old buddy Luke Walton and the Lakers

Arizona Daily Star
That former Tucson roommates Jesse Mermuys and Luke Walton worked together on an NBA coaching staff together this season is probably no surprise.
It was probably bound to happen at some point, considering their basketball passion and knowledge.
Just maybe not this soon.
 
When they lived together in Tucson back in 2002-03, Walton was finishing up his senior season with the Wildcats and about to embark on what became a 10-year NBA playing career.
 
Mermuys was working as the freshman and assistant varsity coach at his alma mater of Salpointe Catholic, about to embark on a fast-paced college and NBA coaching career.
 
Walton played eight full seasons with the Lakers, split one between Los Angeles and Cleveland, and retired as a Cavalier in 2013. He worked with the Lakers’ D-League team in 2013-14, then joined Steve Kerr’s Golden State staff as an assistant in 2013-14.
 
Mermuys, 36, has been even more well-traveled. He took staff jobs in college basketball at Southern Utah, New Mexico State and Arizona, then NBA jobs with Houston, Denver and Toronto, ultimately becoming head coach of Toronto’s D-League affiliate in 2015-16.
 
Then last year, their paths converged. Having turbocharged his résumé by serving capably as the Warriors’ interim head coach, Walton was hired to run the rebuilding Lakers in 2016-17 — and asked Mermuys to join him as an assistant.
 
The answer was yes.
 
During the NBA combine in Chicago last week, when coaching one of the combine teams, Mermuys reflected on working with Walton on the Lakers’ staff and his career so far:
 
Did you think you guys would be coaching together this quickly in the NBA?
 
A: “No. I didn’t think so. It’s one of those things you’re working and you’re trying to work your way up and for him to be able to get to Golden State after playing like he did was an unbelievable opportunity for him. I think it happened so fast and the timing was right.”
 
What is being with the Lakers like after having been in other organizations and the D-League?
 
A: “It was an amazing experience getting to work for Luke. That was the main thing. He’s just an unbelievable coach, an unbelievable person and so fun to work for. So that part was amazing.”
 
What adjustments have you made with the Lakers after all your other stops?
 
A: “I think being a head coach in the D-League was really valuable for me. I’m a much better assistant coach for Luke than I was for Dwane Casey in Toronto and George Karl (in Denver) and Kevin McHale (in Houston).
 
“Once you really get to experience that seat and you get that perspective on it, it makes you realize how you can really help the guy that’s in that chair. It’s not trying to put too much on that guy’s plate and being able to filter things that are necessary and unnecessary, trying to make his job easier.”
 
How was the chemistry with the Lakers?
 
A: “It was the ground floor of a long-term process of trying to build something that’s special and sustainable, and we made a lot of progress. Obviously, that didn’t translate to wins and losses but we kind of knew that going in.
 
“Luke did a really excellent job of staying true to himself, staying positive and really focusing on development of our foundation as a coach rather than getting caught up in the wins and losses.”
 
Do you feel you’re ahead of where you expected to be at this point in your career?
 
A: “No, I don’t because my dream and goal is to be a head coach in the NBA and I’m not really ever able to stop until that dream is realized. I don’t have time to smell the flowers. I’m just kind of, like, steamrolling it and doing the best I can.”
 
Where did the basketball interest come from? Did anyone in your family play the game?
 
A: “No. I was a much better soccer player growing up but I loved the game of basketball and I loved Arizona basketball and that really shaped my career. I wound up playing junior college in Glendale and ended up coaching at Pima (College), went to a small D-I school in Utah, then New Mexico State and got on as director of basketball operations for coach (Lute) Olson.
 
“I was going to do whatever it took to make the NBA, and if I wasn’t going to play there, I was going to coach there.” Read more.
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Salpointe Catholic High School

1545 E. Copper St.,
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 327-6581
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