After the worst season in franchise history in 2015-16, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to part ways with their head coach Byron Scott.
To replace him the Lakers hired another former player of the franchise in Luke Walton, who becomes the youngest coach in the NBA.
Walton’s tenure has gotten off to a good start, as he has been praised by many players and people throughout the league throughout his first training camp and preseason.
A former teammate of Bill Walton, Luke’s father, with the Boston Celtics, Kevin McHale, who has been a head coach in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, thinks Walton will do a good job with the Lakers, via Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:
“I’ve known Luke since he was a baby. I remember Luke drawing with a permanent marker on his couch and going, ‘Luke you shouldn’t do that’ and [him saying], ‘No, just flip over the cushion, don’t worry about it.’ ” McHale said. “I’ve known Luke since he was a little kid and Luke will have some gray hair at the end of this year, so I can’t wait to run into Luke and talk to him.
“He’ll do a great job with that team but I think it’s on the defensive end where they really have to grow together.”
Walton definitely has his work cut out for him as far as improving on the defensive end. Last season the Lakers ranked 27th out of 30 teams, giving up 106.9 points per game. Opponents shot 47.3 percent from the field against them which ranked 29th.
The Lakers went 2-5 this preseason but showed improvements on both ends of the floor and the willingness to learn from Walton and his coaching staff. They open up their season on Wednesday when they host the Rockets.
