For many rookies, entering the NBA is a dream come true. Playing alongside then-future Hall of Famers Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant would have been icing on the cake. However, Luke Walton couldn't be that excited when all four were out to get him.
In the 2003 offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Walton in the second round. Sometime after the draft, the four stars were bidding to make life hell for the second-generation hoopster. Malone won and voluntarily shelled out a hefty sum to nab his prize.
"Karl paid like $15,000 to make me his personal rookie for the year," Luke said .
Karl's vengeance fulfilled
Malone , Payton, O'Neal, and Bryant wanted a piece of Walton because it was an opportunity for them to get back at his dad, Bill. "Big Red" had been working as a commentator at the time. So, many players found themselves on the receiving end of his criticisms at least once.
It seems "The Mailman" wanted it the most. There were even some reports that his winning bid was actually $5,000 more.
However, Walton may have had it easy because the hazing experience he recounted was relatively mild. The two-time champion shared about Malone ordering him to purchase a specific type of headphones that couldn't be bought just anywhere. The caveat was that even if it was snowing outside, the Utah Jazz legend would still command him to do that.
At least Karl probably got the thrill out of hazing Walton. Many fans remember that as the 2003-04 season wore on, the two-time MVP had fewer reasons to smile about. His injuries proved too much to overcome and forced him out of key games; then he also started a beef with Bryant.
As for Luke, he was eventually entrusted with major minutes in the 2004 Finals, averaging 19.7 minutes per contest in the last four meetings of the series against the Detroit Pistons.
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Walton dodged Shaq's infamous hazing
The current Pistons assistant coach should probably also be happy that his rookie season didn't see him become O'Neal 's thrall. After all, "Diesel" has become infamous for being one of the harshest veterans to first-year teammates.
Payton once told of when Shaq dumped a bucket full of week-old God-knows-what on a rookie teammate doing his business inside a bathroom stall.
The legendary big man himself stated that he was "president" and "emperor" when playing for a team, so he thought it was a bright idea to chase a rookie Dorrell Wright around the locker room while naked.
Perhaps Walton did undergo the rite of passage from Shaq because the four-time NBA champ once said that the only players to withstand his rookie hazing were Bryant and Goran Dragic.
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