SAN DIEGO >> The man’s outstretched arms and infectious smile captured his friendly personality. The bike represented one of his favorite hobbies. And the statue depicting Hall-of-Famer center Bill Walton showed how much his native city reveres him.
Despite endless preparation ahead of him before the Lakers’ exhibition game against Golden State on Wednesday at Valley View Casino Center, Lakers coach Luke Walton visited his father’s statue in the arena’s upper concourse.
“I heard nobody wants it,” Walton said. “Is that true?”
It is true that San Diego’s Airport Authority’s Art Advisory Committee rejected the statue as a gift to be displayed at the city’s airport.