Made in L.A.
After getting permission from the Golden State Warriors this past week to speak to the Los Angeles Lakers about their head coaching vacancy, the organization and Luke Walton have agreed to a deal for him to become head coach next season.
Mitch Kupchak had this to say about the hiring:
“We’re excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he’s going to start an outstanding coaching career. 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 becomes the second assistant coach under Steve Kerr to leave the team in consecutive seasons, becoming a hot coaching prospect after taking over as interim coach during Kerr’s absence at the beginning of the season when he dealt with a back injury.
Although he doesn’t have any head coaching experience besides the brief time earlier this season, he is a Los Angeles man to the core, winning two championship rings with the Lakers when the squad was led by the likes of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. Walton couldn’t turn down his dream job as it became available and is now the man in charge.
Jim Buss is now praying Luke saves him from stepping down next season after the team posted the worst record in the history of the franchise this past year.
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