Warriors to allow Luke Walton to interview for head coaching positions
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The Golden State Warriors will allow assistant coach Luke Walton interview for any head coaching job, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Monday.
Kerr noted that any interviews would have to take place after the conclusion of a Warriors playoff series so as not to distract from the team, and he also pointed out that the rumors linking Walton to the New York Knicks’ head coaching vacancy have been overblown.
Over the weekend multiple outlets reported Knicks president Phil Jackson conducted a phone interview with Walton, which Kerr denied.
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“Nobody from New York has interviewed Luke,” Kerr said, according to ESPN. “That has not happened. Luke and Phil have had contact, just like Phil and I have had contact, but not anything to do with the job. That would be tampering. If somebody wants to speak with Luke, they know the protocol. They would call [Warriors general manager] Bob [Myers], and we will handle it just like we handled with Alvin [Gentry] last year.
“We’ll give Luke permission, but it would be after a series ended and we have a little spare time, but it’s important to note that Phil has not reached out to Luke about the job. That’s false. Friendships sometimes dictate conversation, and there was some of that, but nothing to do with the job.”
The Warriors currently lead their first-round playoff series with the Rockets 2–0. They will play the third game of the series on Thursday in Houston at 9:30 p.m. ET.
