Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says the Los Angeles Lakers are “losing one of the best human beings in the NBA” by parting ways with Luke Walton.
Walton was an assistant coach with the Warriors from 2014-16 before he joined the Lakers in the summer of 2016.
Walton led the Warriors to a 39-4 start as interim head coach during the 2015-16 season while Kerr was recovering from back surgery.
The Lakers missed the playoffs this season, the first year of the LeBron James era. Walton's dismissal hasn't shocked anyone in the league, as everyone saw it coming.
Magic Johnson and Luke Walton had a heated conversation at the beginning of the season after the Lakers got off to a slow start. Magic stepped down from his position on Wednesday. Owner Jeanie Buss reportedly told Magic he could fire Walton at the end of the season.
Obviously, Steve Kerr is going to defend Walton. They had a close relationship in Golden State. The Lakers were in the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings on Christmas after they defeated Kerr and the Warriors. The left groin injury which James suffered during the said game was pretty much the end of the season for the Purple and Gold.
LeBron missed 17 consecutive games, and the Lakers went just 6-11 during that stretch.