The Lakers reached an agreement Friday night with the Golden State assistant to become their head coach, dramatically choosing a leader for their new era after Kobe Bryant.
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“We’re excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he’s going to start an outstanding coaching career”, said Kupchak.
Walton replaces Byron Scott, who was sacked by the Lakers on Sunday.
Walton and the Lakers agreed to a multi-year deal to become their head coach.
When Kerr was unable to coach the team at the beginning of the 2015/2016 season due to a debilitating back issue, Walton coached the team on an interim basis leading them to a historic start on their way to a record setting 73 wins.
Walton will join the Lakers at the conclusion of the Golden State season.
Earlier this month, the Lakers were widely castigated in the media and in league circles for dragging their feet on a Scott decision and missing out on highly regarded former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Houston has reportedly asked for permission to interview Warriors assistant Luke Walton after James Harden and company were eliminated by the defending champions. “I thought Coach Blatt did a great and phenomenal job here”.
Apart from Walton, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach and European coaching legend Ettore Messina is believed to be the only other serious candidate according to Sam Amick of USA Today. “I told them early on that, look, it’s my responsibility to get on you guys if we’re not playing to a certain level, to get upset if it needs to come to that”. Bryant has backed Walton as a future head coach for years, praising his intelligence and understanding of the game. Walton didn’t inherit his father Bill’s Hall of Fame skillset, but it was clear that even as a substandard player, he had the basketball IQ of an All-Star.
Walton inherits a young roster filled with several potential cornerstones in D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
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Walton inherits a team that had a franchise-worst 17-65 record in the recently completed 2015-16 season. Walton ought to have at least a couple of seasons to turn things around, but with a lottery draft pick this year and room to add free agents, expectations are sure to rise soon enough.
