EL SEGUNDO (CNS) - The Los Angeles Lakers hired Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton today as their coach, five days after the firing of Byron Scott.
Walton and the team reached agreement on a multi-year contract, general manager Mitch Kupchak said. Walton will begin his new duties at the conclusion of the Warriors season.
"We're excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he's going to start an outstanding coaching career," Kupchak said.
"He's one of the brightest young coaching minds in the game and we feel fortunate that he'll be leading the on-court future of our team.''
Walton inherits a team that had a franchise-worst 17-65 record in the recently completed 2015-16 season.
Walton is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Warriors.
He had a 39-4 record as Golden State's interim coach to begin this season when Steve Kerr was unable to coach as because of back problems, including a 24-0 start, the best in NBA history.
Walton, a son of Basketball Hall of Fame member Bill Walton, began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis during the 2011 NBA lockout. He was a player development coach for the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the 2013-14 season.
The 36-year-old Walton played for the Lakers from 2003 through 2012 and was a member of their 2009 and 2010 championship teams.
#BREAKING Lakers tap Luke Walton, University of San Diego High School grad, as new head coach
— 10News (@10News) April 30, 2016
Congratulations to Luke Walton, who has been named the new head coach of the Lakers.
— Ben Higgins (@BenHigginsSD) April 30, 2016
Luke Walton won more games as interim coach for 1/2 a season with the Warriors than the Lakers won in the last two seasons combined.
— Ben Higgins (@BenHigginsSD) April 30, 2016
