NBA Coaching Rumors: Kings Request Interview With Luke Walton After Mutually Agreeing With Lakers To Part Ways

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Rocky Widner-NBAE via Getty Images

After months of speculation, the Los Angeles Lakers and head coach Luke Walton mutually agreed to part ways Friday. The decision came three days after Magic Johnson abruptly stepped down as Lakers president of basketball operations.

Some believed Johnson’s departure would potentially pave the way to Walton remaining head coach. That notion was further supported by Walton joining general manager Rob Pelinka in Lakers exit interviews this week.

With that, the Sacramento Kings nonetheless were reported as having interest in Walton if and when they made a coaching change. Not long after Vlade Divac signed a four-year contract extension to remain Kings general manager, he fired Dave Joerger.

Now that Walton is no longer under contract with the Lakers, the Kings have requested an interview, per Marc Stein of The New York Times:

If Walton is hired by the Kings, he would inherit a young roster and at 39-43 a team coming off a surprisingly successful season.

Walton went 98-148 during his three seasons as head coach of the Lakers. They saw nine-win improvements in each of his first two years but struggled this season amid a new-look roster and rash of injuries.

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com