He’s not a player, but for the first time in recent years, the Los Angeles Lakers got the man they really wanted according to a report from Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck: Luke Walton will be the next head coach.
Advertisement
The Golden State Warriors have granted Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak permission to speak to their assistant coach Luke Walton about the Lakers head coaching job. He served as interim head coach for the Warriors to open the season while Steve Kerr recovered from complications caused by offseason back surgery and went 39-4, including a record 24-0 start. “We are certainly going to miss Luke after we conclude our playoff runs this season, but we wish him the very best with the Lakers”.
The 36-year-old Walton played for Jackson in Los Angeles, winning two titles, and the two have maintained a relationship with Jackson offering him an assistant coaching job two years ago. Had he hesitated or said no, the team was going to turn its attention to San Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore Messina.
It has been learnt that the Lakers top brass had gone to Oakland to make the final negotiation and confirm Walton for the new coach’s post.
When directly held up to Byron Scott’s contract ($4.25 million a year), Mike D’Antoni‘s ($4 million a year), and Mike Brown‘s ($4 million a year), Walton represents a significant upgrade for just around a million dollars more per season.
“He’s a natural – was a coach on the floor as a player”, Jackson said.
Having witnessed championship basketball firsthand in 2008-09 and 2009-10 as a Lakers player and past year during his time with the Warriors, Walton knows what it takes to reach the NBA’s mountaintop and what a winning culture looks like. Walton became an assistant in Golden State last season and earned promotion to the job of Kerr’s lead assistant this season after Alvin Gentry left. He was named the Western Conference’s coach of the month to start the season. Though the Lakers might be thinking of him, Walton might not be attracted. Walton might not have the experience to handle a team that has young roster like the Lakers.
Advertisement
Walton has strong ties to the Lakers after playing as a key reserve (2003-12) and helping them to consecutive National Basketball Association titles (2009, 2010).
