Update: The Lakers confirmed the news on their website shortly after it initially broke. Pertinent details of the team’s release on Walton’s hiring are below.
Earlier today, the Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton reached an agreement on a multi-year contract for Walton to become the next Head Coach of the team, it was announced by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Walton will begin his new duties at the conclusion of the Golden State Warriors season.
“We’re excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he’s going to start an outstanding coaching career,” said Kupchak. “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.”
Previously: This was always the most likely outcome for the Los Angeles Lakers. For a storied franchise finally entering the first phase of a long overdue rebuilding process, though, it’s certainly wildly encouraging nonetheless.
According to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding and Howard Beck, Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton has agreed to become the Lakers’ head coach.
Lakers have agreed to terms with Luke Walton to be their next head coach, according to team sources.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) April 30, 2016
Luke Walton has agreed to become the next head coach of the Lakers, sources tell BR.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) April 30, 2016
Los Angeles relieved Byron Scott of his duties earlier this week. He compiled a a 38-126 record in two seasons with the purple and gold, and leaves the team with the lowest winning percentage (.231) of any coach in franchise history.
Walton, like Scott before him, is a long-time member of the Lakers family. The San Diego native played nine of his 10 years in the NBA with Los Angeles after being drafted by Mitch Kupchak in 2003-04. Though he was only a regular starter for one season, Walton is remembered fondly by Lakers faithful for his role in helping the team to back-to-back championships at the turn of the decade.
At 36 years old, Walton will become the youngest head coach in basketball. He joined the Warriors’ staff last season as an assistant, and served as the defending champions’ interim head coach for the first three months of 2015-16 while Steve Kerr dealt with complications from back surgery. Walton led Golden State to 39-4 record in that capacity and finished ninth in Coach of the Year voting for helping Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the rest to a historic 73-win season.
We’ll keep you updated on this developing story as additional details become available.
