INDIANAPOLIS – The bus pulled up to the hotel in mid-afternoon, giving Luke Walton a valuable lesson that went beyond mastering Phil Jackson’s triangle offense or fitting in on a championship-laden roster.

As an NBA rookie with the Lakers during the 2003-04 season, Walton also realized how much free time he had on the road. That marked a stark contrast to the regimented structure at the University of Arizona, which entailed meetings, team dinners, more meetings and early curfew. Once Walton stepped off the bus a day before an early regular-season game, he was told to report to the bus the following morning at 10:30 a.m.

“Everything is new when you’re young,” Walton said. “You have no idea what it’s like.”

Yet, Walton said he managed to avoid off-the-court distractions on the road for two reasons. Jackson often organized team-bonding activities, such as a paintball tournament. Though Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal often feuded during Walton’s rookie season, he said many Lakers players often went out to dinner together on off nights and after games.

So as the young Lakers (1-2) enter Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers (1-2) still learning how to adjust to the NBA’s travel-heavy schedule, Walton has tried to incorporate what he learned as a rookie.

Though he acknowledged “not a lot of guys went,” some Lakers attended a private screening of the soon-to-be-released film “Hacksaw Ridge.” After Monday’s practice, some visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And Walton reported the team’s veterans, including Luol Deng, Lou Williams, Timofey Mozgov, Jose Calderon and Metta World Peace, have been hanging out with the team’s young core of D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.

“They hang out together and are interacting together,” Walton said. “It’s not a separated group. The vets are doing a good job of helping bring along some of the young guys.”

It has not exactly helped the bottom-line results just yet.

After opening the season with a win against Houston at Staples Center, the Lakers have lost in Utah and Oklahoma City. But Walton said he is encouraged with the team’s drive and ability to chip away at deficits.

“When you’re at home, you have the crowd behind you. You play with a lot more confidence,” Walton said. “When you’re on the road, it’s just our group in the building. It’s up to us to produce our own energy and it’s up to us to be so mentally locked in that we can withstand their run and the energy they’re getting from their crowd.”

A HELPFUL ASSIST

Every time Randle runs up the court, the moment often leads to a rollercoaster of experiences. Randle flusters opponents with his brute strength and imposing presence, and his ability to finish with an easy basket or set up a teammate for an open look has the Lakers excited about his playmaking potential.

“It makes it easier,” Russell said. “You don’t really have to run the offense when he runs like that.”

That’s because Randle is averaging 15 points on 67.9 percent shooting, 6.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists through three games. That led Russell to claim “at times, I feel like he’s going to have more assists than me throughout the season.”

“He’s doing a great job of listening a little bit more as far as hearing other people’s opinions,” Russell said. “Last year, he was good. But he had to pick and choose when to be aggressive and be in transition when he gets the rebound. Now I feel like he’s looking for others more and finding a better balance of getting others involved, too.”

Contact the writer: mmedina@scng.com