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Los Angeles Lakers agree to deal with Luke Walton as new head coach
Funny how I hated him as a player and commentator, but wanted him as the coach. LOL! Finally Lakers front office does something right.
Funny how I hated him as a player and commentator, but wanted him as the coach. LOL! Finally Lakers front office does something right.
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed with Luke Walton to be their new head coach, the team announced Friday night.
"We're excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he's going to start an outstanding coaching career," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a release. "He's one of the brightest young coaching minds in the game and we feel fortunate that he'll be leading the on-court future of our team."
Walton had been serving as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors, who granted him permission to interview with the Lakers after their first-round Western Conference playoff series concluded Wednesday.
The 36-year-old had become a hot coaching commodity after posting a 39-4 record -- including a record 24-0 start -- as the Warriors' interim coach this season while Steve Kerr was recovering from complications stemming from two offseason back surgeries.
Walton finished eighth Tuesday in coach of the year balloting. Sources previously said he had drawn serious interest from the Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks as those teams continued their coaching searches.
Speaking about Walton at Kerr's coach of the year news conference Tuesday, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said: "This guy deserves a lot of credit, too."
Walton replaces Byron Scott, who was fired Sunday night after posting a 38-126 record over the past two seasons.
Walton played 10 years in the NBA (2003-13), averaging 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He played nine of those seasons with the Lakers and was a member of championship teams with L.A. in 2009 and '10.
"We're excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he's going to start an outstanding coaching career," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a release. "He's one of the brightest young coaching minds in the game and we feel fortunate that he'll be leading the on-court future of our team."
Walton had been serving as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors, who granted him permission to interview with the Lakers after their first-round Western Conference playoff series concluded Wednesday.
The 36-year-old had become a hot coaching commodity after posting a 39-4 record -- including a record 24-0 start -- as the Warriors' interim coach this season while Steve Kerr was recovering from complications stemming from two offseason back surgeries.
Walton finished eighth Tuesday in coach of the year balloting. Sources previously said he had drawn serious interest from the Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks as those teams continued their coaching searches.
Speaking about Walton at Kerr's coach of the year news conference Tuesday, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said: "This guy deserves a lot of credit, too."
Walton replaces Byron Scott, who was fired Sunday night after posting a 38-126 record over the past two seasons.
Walton played 10 years in the NBA (2003-13), averaging 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He played nine of those seasons with the Lakers and was a member of championship teams with L.A. in 2009 and '10.