Lakers’ newcoach still has unfinished business
oakland, calif. » Luke Walton was in no rush to leave his job as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors.
He won an NBA championship his first season, went 39-4 as the interim coach in place of Steve Kerr to start this season andwas part of a team that set the league record for most wins (73) in the regular season.
But when the Los Angeles Lakers came calling, Walton could not turn down the team he began his pro career with and which he helped win two NBA titles.
“I was very comfortable with the idea of coming back here and coaching again next year with this team and Steve,” Walton said Saturday. “I was fine with that. But you have to take the opportunities when they come.”
The Lakers announced Friday night that they had agreed to a contract to hireWalton just five days after firing Byron Scott, another former L.A. player. It all came together very fast as Walton interviewedThursday inOakland with Lakers owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak before getting the offer the next day.
Walton said he was nervous to call Kerr to give him the news. He started the call by telling Kerr that he had good news (he received the offer to coach the Lakers) and bad news (he was going to accept it).
“He’s thrilled for the opportunity and it’s going to be great,” Kerr said. “But it’s bad news for all of us. You can’t replace Luke. He’s one of a kind. They broke the mold after they made Luke. We’re going to miss him desperately.”
Kerr creditedWalton for helping to create the culture that allowed Golden State towin 140 games the past two regular seasons, including a 73-9 performance this season. Walton took overwhenKerrwas sidelined by complications from offseason back surgery to start this season and led Golden State to a record 24 consecutive wins to open the season.
Walton will remain with the Warriors until their playoff run ends, while using some downtime to prepare for his new job.
“My priority is the Warriors, these players and winning a championship right now,” Walton said. “The Lakers knowthat and they knowthat’s howit should be. We have a chance to do something very special.”
Walton spent nine seasons as a forward with the Lakers, winning two title rings as a smart, steady contributor. Three years after his retirement as a player, the 36-year-old Southern California native is back as the 26th head coach in franchise history.
Walton, a second-round draft pick out of Arizona in 2003, was a backup on the Lakers’ championship teams in 2009 and 2010 before getting traded to Cleveland in March 2012.
After his playing career ended in 2013, heworked briefly for the Lakers’ television network as a broadcaster, and for their D-League team as a player development coach.
Walton became an assistant with Golden State last season and earned a promotion to the job of Kerr’s lead assistant this season. His father is Hall of Famer BillWalton.