Lakers' Walton limps through challenging year

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Some days, Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton said, his right ankle feels 90 to 100 percent healthy. Other days, the ankle feels 60 to 65 percent.

He just carries on, knowing that he is limited.

"It's fine enough to play," said Walton, who tweaked the ankle again almost 21/2 weeks ago and hasn't been the same since.

"It's definitely not where I want it to be. But it's something I'll probably have to deal with, hopefully not the rest of this season, but hopefully it'll calm down in a week or so."

Walton said he has bone spurs in the ankle that can cause it to flare up at any time, and he takes pain medication.

"We have him out there because he's knowledgeable about what we do," Coach Phil Jackson said. "He keeps everybody footed in our offense. I've been very pleased he's been able to perform the way he has under the limitations that he's got."

Walton, who had a career year last season and was rewarded with a $30 million deal, has started 14 of his 28 games and is averaging 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

He seems to play better when he is in the starting lineup, and his numbers reflect that.

So does he prefer to start or come off the bench?

"I like them both," he said. "I love starting, but I love playing with the second unit. Wherever Phil wants to play me, that's what I'll do.

"Obviously I think this year I've played better in the starter's role than when he was bringing me off the bench. I don't think I was being as productive as I was when I was starting."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)