OAKLAND, California (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers received permission from the Warriors to interview top assistant Luke Walton for their coaching vacancy.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said before Game 5 of the playoffs against Houston that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak contacted Warriors GM Bob Myers, who said Walton could interview once the first-round series is done. The Warriors held a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series going into Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Walton, who won two championships during his nine seasons playing for the Lakers, guided defending champion Golden State to a record 24-0 start this season while filling in for Kerr when the coach was on a leave of absence following complications from two back surgeries. Overall, Walton was 39-4 while Kerr was out, and he finished eighth in Coach of the Year voting.
”It is impressive for an assistant coach. I think he should have been higher,” Golden State power forward Draymond Green said.
Walton has not wanted to become a distraction during Golden State’s quest for a second straight title when it comes to speaking about his coaching future. For months, he has been considered a strong candidate to be in the Lakers’ plans if they made a change.
Los Angeles fired Byron Scott on Sunday night.
Scott coached the two worst seasons in the 16-time NBA champion franchise’s history, going 38-126. In Kobe Bryant’s disappointing farewell season, the Lakers finished with the NBA’s second-worst record at 17-65 this season, losing four more games than in their previous franchise-worst season in 2014-15.
Walton quickly earned the trust and respect of the Warriors players – not to mention Kerr, who promoted him to the top assistant chair this season after Alvin Gentry departed to coach New Orleans.
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