The Lakers scored the biggest prize in the NBA head coaching sweepstakes hiring Luke Walton to a multi year deal.
Guess the interview went well… pic.twitter.com/Inm2YTn7T2
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 30, 2016
“We’re excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he’s going to start an outstanding coaching career,” general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “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, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant in Golden State rose to prominence this year leading the Warriors to a 34-4 start which eventually led to a record-breaking 73-9 campaign. He also finished eighth in Coach of the Year voting despite all his wins in the beginning of the season belonging to Steve Kerr (who eventually won Coach of the Year honors) after filling in on an interim basis.
Walton at 36 also becomes the youngest head coach in the NBA.
The Lakers hiring Walton displays an aura of relevance that remains with the team despite some pretty deplorable seasons the past few years. This is especially apparent when you compare the Lakers franchise to say that of the New York Knicks who remain in many ways NBA Chernobyl. Phil Jackson hasn’t been the solution in the front office, James Dolan is still the owner and no one of any prominence and respectability (aside from Jackson) wants to go to the Big Apple. The Knicks tried their hand at Walton who refused the offer. Meanwhile Walton was the Lakers’ first and only interview before being ultimately offered the job after the team recently fired Byron Scott.
Despite the name recognition with the Lakers and the shine on his young head coaching resume, Walton will have his work cut out for him when it comes to LA.
Unlike the establish squad he had the opportunity to coach in Northern California, Walton takes over a Lakers team with plenty of uncertainty in the post Kobe era. They’re also a squad that’s had problems in the locker room and won just 38 games in the Byron Scott era.
Then there’s the essential unknown still with Walton whose head coaching experience has lasted half a season.