The Los Angeles Lakers, outside of Kobe Bryant‘s unbelievable final game, just endured a season to forget, one that cost head coach Byron Scott his job. They’ve quickly found their replacement.
Warriors assistant coach and former Los Angeles Laker Luke Walton will take over the reigns as the head coach of the Lake Show at the start of the 2016-2017 season later this year. It’s Walton’s first head coaching position, though he was rumored to be coveted by several high profile teams, including the New York Knicks, where Walton’s former coach, Phil Jackson, is the President of Basketball Operations.
Los Angeles will be Walton’s first full-time head coaching gig, but it won’t be his first time calling the shots. Earlier this season, when Warriors head coach Steve Kerr couldn’t be with the team due to health issues, Walton took the reigns, leading Golden State to a record 24-0 start to the season. Despite having the Steph-Klay-Draymond machine at his disposal, Walton’s poise and adapting skills were credited by many during that run, leading to him being a leading coaching candidate this offseason.
He’ll have his work cut out for him in L.A., who just lost their 20-year franchise player and are coming off of a 17-win season.
