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Los Angeles Lakers' head coach Luke Walton had said after his team's loss to the Golden State Warriors earlier this month that it is important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. That the 36-year-old coach who took charge earlier this year also has an eye for smaller details to work towards that bigger goal was known when he spotted the talent in Thomas Robinson, the 25-year-old forward who changed five teams in his first four NBA seasons and was nowhere near the reckoning.

It was only when Robinson started participating in the pick-up games at the Lakers' facility that Walton and other members of the team saw him. Walton especially was impressed by the man and offered him an invitation to the training camp.

 "Every single day his teams were winning and he was one of the better players on the court. I talked about it to the front office and we were like, we might as well invite the kid," a LakersNation.com report quoted the Lakers' coach as saying. Robinson rose to the occasion and continued to have a charming effect on Walton by being committed and hardworking.

The Lakers still weren't sure about Robinson lasting beyond the training camp (he was signed by in September) but the coach's instincts in Walton gave him the benefit of doubt. Waslton said apart from the game, Robinson also did well in the interaction part. "Even when he was not getting DNPs (Did Not Play), he was talking in the huddle, talking at halftime," Walton said. He felt that a more structured setting helped one understand why Robinson did not stick in the NBA and backed him.

The Lakers were so impressed by Robinson's game during the training camp that they started to think out ways to accommodate him despite the fact that 17 players are already on the roster. It was just trying to find a way to get Robinson a spot, Walton said.

For the player, too, it was a great news for things have been far too unstable for him. Robinson, however, is still keeping his fingers crossed even after learning about the development before the practice on Monday. "I made the team but nothing is done yet. I shouldn't have been in that position, but things happen the way they happen and I worked my way out of it and I just have to keep going," he said.

Robinson had his earlier stints with Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets but he felt his experience with the LA Lakers was different as he didn't find himself to be an odd one out like before, something he told LakersNation.com recently.