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Lakers’ hire of Luke Walton a move L.A. needed to make
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There is no perfect first-time head coaching candidate, as the nature of the business is replete with uncontrollable unknowns, but Luke Walton appears to be the coach the Lakers want and the coach they need, regardless of how closely those two designations coincided.
In the most basic biographical terms, Walton appeals to the Lakers’ traditional desires: familiarity, glamour and splash. He’s a recognizable and handsome face, having grown up in southern California and following in the footsteps of his father, Hall of Famer Bill Walton, to play in the Pac-10 and NBA. He’s a well-respected member of the Lakers family, having spent eight-plus years playing for the franchise, winning titles in 2009 and ‘10. And he happens to be a hot commodity, having guided the defending champion Warriors to a record 24–0 start as interim coach during Steve Kerr’s absence following multiple back surgeries.
The Lakers have been all over the map in recent years, struggling to establish a clear vision following the 2013 death of owner Dr. Jerry Buss, but Walton ticks off the simplest boxes on their checklist: The team’s massive fan base will welcome him back with open arms, he arrives with the glory-days gleam of championship rings and Larry O’Brien trophies, and his hiring is sure to dominate national headlines in a way that, say, “Suns ink Earl Watson” simply never will.
• MORE NBA:SI Vault: Luke Walton is Warriors’ unlikely leader (12.21.15)
But those goals haven’t always served the Lakers well in the post-Phil Jackson years: Mike Brown got his coaching start in southern California at the University of San Diego, Byron Scott was a former Lakers champion and Mike D’Antoni’s arrival generated tons of attention. After the two worst seasons in franchise history, after the end of Kobe Bryant’s two-decade reign, and after a messy end to the season that saw D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young involved in tabloid drama, the Lakers needed more than the same old, same old.
The Lakers needed an injection of winning. They Lakers needed a fresh face to lead what comes next. And the Lakers needed a new personality after Scott’s failed taskmaster approach.
The 36-year-old Walton, whose hire was announced Friday, brings all three to the table. While his coaching career is brief—one year as a college assistant, one year as a D-League development coach for the Lakers’ affiliate, and two years on Kerr’s bench—there’s obviously been plenty of winning. He started picking Jackson’s brain late during his playing career, pitched in as the Warriors won 67 games and the title in Kerr’s first season, and then put together a 39–4 record this season as Kerr recovered. Although Walton’s official coaching record remains 0–0, with his wins and losses credited to Kerr, he did enough to receive votes for the Coach of the Year award (which ultimately went to Kerr).
PHOTOS: SI’s 100 best shots of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant
SI's 100 Best Kobe Bryant Photos
Kobe Bryant
March 3, 1997
Kobe Bryant
Oct. 24, 1997
Amanda Bynes, Kobe Bryant and Christy Knowings
Jan. 16, 1998 — All That
Kel Mitchell, Kobe Bryant and Kenan Thompson
Jan. 16, 1998 — All That
Kobe Bryant with his sisters, Shaya and Sharia
Feb. 1, 1998
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 1, 1998
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 1, 1998
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 1, 1998
Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant
Feb. 1, 1998
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan
Feb. 8, 1998
Kobe Bryant
March 4, 1998
Kobe Bryant and John Stockton
April 19, 1998
Kobe Bryant
May 18, 1998 — Western Conference Finals, Game 2
Kobe Bryant
May 22, 1998 — Western Conference Finals, Game 3
Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen
Feb. 5, 1999
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 5, 1999
Kobe Bryant and Hakeem Olajuwon
Feb. 28, 1999
Kobe Bryant
Dec. 3, 1999
Kobe Bryant
Dec. 14, 1999
Kobe Bryant
Dec. 26, 1999
Kobe Bryant
Jan. 17, 2000
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 22, 2000
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 26, 2000
Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson
March 31, 2000
Kobe Bryant
April 12, 2000
Kobe Bryant
April 12, 2000
Kobe Bryant
April 12, 2000
Kobe Bryant
April 12, 2000
Kobe Bryant
April 12, 2000
Kobe Bryant
April 27, 2000 — Western Conference First Round, Game 2
Kobe Bryant
June 4, 2000 — Western Conference Finals, Game 7
Kobe Bryant and Mark Jackson
June 14, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 4
Kobe Bryant
June 14, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 4
Kobe Bryant and Dale Davis
June 19, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 6
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
June 19, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 6
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
June 19, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 6
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 10, 2001 — NBA All-Star Game
Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen
April 22, 2001 — Western Conference First Round, Game 1
Kobe Bryant, Rasheed Wallace, Stacey Augmon and Shaquille O'Neal
April 22, 2001 — Western Conference First Round, Game 1
Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson
April 29, 2001 — Western Conference First Round, Game 3
Kobe Bryant and Doug Christie
May 8, 2001 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2
Kobe Bryant and David Robinson
May 19, 2001 — Western Conference Finals, Game 1
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant
June 1, 2001
Kobe Bryant and Dikembe Mutombo
June 13, 2001 — NBA Finals, Game 4
Kobe Bryant and Chris Kaman
Feb. 4, 2002
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 10, 2002 — NBA All-Star Game
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 24, 2002
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant
March 1, 2002
Kobe Bryant and Derek Anderson
April 28, 2002 — Western Conference First Round, Game 1
Kobe Bryant and Bobby Jackson
June 2, 2002 — Western Conference Finals, Game 7
Kobe Bryant and Aaron Williams
June 5, 2002 — NBA Finals, Game 1
Kobe Bryant
June 12, 2002 — NBA Finals, Game 4
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
June 9, 2002 — NBA Finals, Game 3
Kobe Bryant
Nov. 11, 2002
Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming
Jan. 27, 2003
Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, Tayshaun Prince, Kobe Bryant, Devean George, Richard Hamilton, Karl Malone and Rasheed Wallace
June 8, 2004 — NBA Finals, Game 2
Kobe Bryant
Jan. 13, 2005
Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal
Feb. 20, 2005 — NBA All-Star Game
Kobe Bryant, Chris Kaman, Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley
Nov. 18, 2005
Kobe Bryant and DeSagana Diop
Dec. 20, 2005
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
Jan. 16, 2006
Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan
March 10, 2006
Kobe Bryant
April 30, 2006 — Western Conference First Round, Game 4
Kobe Bryant
Feb. 11, 2007
Kobe Bryant, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and LeBron James
Jan. 27, 2008
Kobe Bryant
April 23, 2008 — Western Conference First Round, Game 2
Kobe Bryant
May 23, 2008 — Western Conference Finals, Game 2
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James
June 30, 2008
Kobe Bryant
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Kobe Bryant, LeBron Jame,s Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony
Aug. 24, 2008 — Beijing Olympics
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant
Feb. 15, 2009 — NBA All-Star Game
Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher
May 4, 2009 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 1
Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant
May 6, 2009 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2
Kobe Bryant
May 19, 2009 — Western Conference Finals, Game 1
Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony
May 19, 2009 — Western Conference Finals, Game 1
Kobe Bryant
May 29, 2009 — Western Conference Finals, Game 6
Kobe Bryant and Mickael Pietrus
June 9, 2009 — NBA Finals, Game 3
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol
June 14, 2009 — NBA Finals, Game 5
Kobe Bryant with his father, Joe
June 21, 2009 — Angels-Dodgers game
Kobe Bryant
March 25, 2010
Kobe Bryant
April 27, 2010 — Western Conference First Round, Game 5
Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo
June 10, 2010 — NBA Finals, Game 4
Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo
June 15, 2010 — NBA Finals, Game 6
Kobe Bryant
June 17, 2010 — NBA Finals, Game 7
Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan
Feb. 3, 2011
Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen
Feb. 10, 2011
Kobe Bryant
April 26, 2011 — Western Conference First Round, Game 5
Kobe Bryant
March 4, 2012
Kobe Bryant
May 18, 2012 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 3
Kobe Bryant
Aug. 6, 2012 — London Olympics
Kobe Bryant
Nov. 9, 2012
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James
Feb. 17, 2013 — NBA All-Star Game
Kobe Bryant and Josh Smith
March 3, 2013
Kobe Bryant and Serge Ibaka
March 5, 2013
Kobe Bryant
Oct. 9, 2013
Kobe Bryant
July 18, 2014
Kobe Bryant
July 18, 2014
Kobe Bryant
July 18, 2014
Kobe Bryant
July 18, 2014
D'Angelo Russell and Kobe Bryant
Sept. 30, 2015
“I’m incredibly happy for Luke,” Kerr said in a statement. “As we witnessed earlier this season, he has all of the intangibles necessary to be an outstanding head coach in this league, including a terrific understanding of the game the ability to communicate with a wide range of people. He’s certainly ready for this opportunity.”
Walton’s youth, energy and playing experience will be key to helping the Lakers manage their post-Bryant transition. If the Lakers’ struggles to land marquee free agents continue this summer, as they very well might, the losses will mount in volume again next year. Keeping a young core focused through long, tough stretches requires a coach with patience, forgiveness and direct, respectful communication. That’s Walton, who approaches the job as a former role player who dealt with the ups-and-downs of injuries and as a young coach who had a front-row seat as players like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson fully blossomed over the last two years.
Lastly, Walton’s laid-back, surfer-style approach should be a welcome change from Scott’s perpetual scowl and deference to the old school. While his biggest challenge will be asserting and maintaining authority—just like any young, first-timer—Walton can help ensure buy-in by relying on a fun and forward-thinking offense (built on pace, passing, movement and three-pointers). What more could offense-first guards like Russell and Jordan Clarkson want?
There are bound to be major challenges here. Critics will point to former Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry and his struggles this season in New Orleans as evidence that plucking from the champions isn’t a guaranteed formula for success. That’s true: Each situation is unique and Walton is inheriting a roster lacking in talent and experience.
The hiring of Walton looks sensible, in the final analysis, because it works in the short-term (where the Lakers usually focus) and the long-term (where the Lakers will likely need to focus), and because it came together right on schedule, less than a week after Scott was let go. It’s encouraging that the Lakers targeted, and swiftly landed, a candidate who can “win the press conference” and who fits the mold of a coach who can help a rebuilding team get back to its winning ways.
Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.