There has been plenty of rumors hinting Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton will no longer hold his position once the season comes to an end. Yet even if he's fired by the team, he's expected to bounce right back on his feet with “plenty of options” to continue his coaching career in the NBA, according to Seth Davis of The Athletic.
Walton was first linked to the UCLA Bruins, given that his father, Hall of Famer Bill Walton, is among the school's best and proudest — making him immediate family and a good candidate to fill the vacancy once Murry Bartow vacates the interim spot.
Former head coach Steve Alford was fired during his sixth season on Dec. 31, as the Bruins were mired in a four-game skid that included home losses to Belmont and Liberty. Bartow took over in an interim basis but noted he does not intend to be at the helm after this season, according to Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times.
Walton has also been linked to the Phoenix Suns if rookie head coach Igor Kokoskov was to be fired at the end of the season. The Suns have only won 17 games a year after winning 21 and mustering the worst record in the league — yet having won six of their last 10 games could be largely seen as major progress if he manages to nab a few more wins before the season ends.
It's believed Walton would highly prefer an NBA job than a college gig, and if he indeed has many choices to continue his journey as an NBA coach, it is unlikely he will pick UCLA with a lot more salary at stake in the big league.
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