AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREUCLA alum Kenny Clark signs four-year contract extension with Packers“I’ll take credit for everything,” Prunty joked. “Unbelievable player. His IQ was and still is off the charts. Him and his brothers were tremendous high school players, just in terms of being able to pass and make plays for people.“With their size, being able to handle the ball, (they) could bring it up the floor, it was fun to watch them play and be a part of them developing.”Prunty is a well-traveled NBA assistant, having spent time with six organizations. In January, he became the interim coach in Milwaukee after the Bucks fired Jason Kidd.“I had a lot of fun with Coach Prunty when I was in high school,” Walton said. “He’s one of those guys that’s easy to talk to and he made the high school experience a lot of fun.”BALL AND PAINThe knee contusion that kept Lonzo Ball out of Friday’s game might not be a serious injury, but Walton made it clear the Lakers will not cut any corners in getting him back on the court. LOS ANGELES — Luke Walton has grown accustomed to bumping into his high school coach since they both reached the NBA. When the Lakers traded Walton to Cleveland in 2012, Joe Prunty worked as a Cavs assistant.Not until Friday, however, had the two men with ties to San Diego’s University High School been head coaches against each other in a game.“The fact that we were in the same high school together and he was coaching me,” Walton said, “that part, I’ve gotten over. But if you do take a step back it’s kind of strange that my high school coach is now the coach of the team I’m coaching against.”Prunty was the coach of the freshman team and a varsity assistant when Walton was in high school. They were both part of the team that in 1998 won a CIF State championship before Walton headed off to the University of Arizona and a 10-year NBA career. “We want to make sure he feels good and confident and he’s not compensating with the way that he’s running,” Walton said.Ball has missed 24 games in his rookie season due to injuries. A sprained shoulder cost him six games in December and on Jan. 15 he suffered a left MCL sprain that kept him out for 16 of 17 games. While the Lakers would prefer to have Ball on the court at all times, Walton said “there’s a ton of learning opportunities” when a player is sidelined.“You get to see what it’s like trying to make it through an NBA season,” Walton said. “That’s why so few players that play big minutes make it through 82 games. It’s hard on the body. So I think it’s a good tool for him to understand going into this offseason as far as getting stronger and continuing to dedicate himself in the weight room and things of that nature.”CRAZY EIGHTSBall became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double when the Lakers lost in Milwaukee on Nov. 11. His injury prevented him from trying to match the feat against the Bucks.On that night along the Milwaukee River, Ball seemed destined to record one triple-double after another. Instead, he logged his second eight nights later. Since then, none.“He’s always right there,” Walton said. “I’m surprised that it hasn’t happened (more) because it’s always one assist, one rebound away from happening. It’s a couple points away.”Ball has tallied at least eight points, rebounds and assists in 10 games not counting his two triple-doubles.His inability to pull off the statistical feat more frequently, however, is a quirk rather than a concern.“The way he plays, he’ll always be flirting with triple doubles his whole career,” Walton said. Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error read more