Report: Los Angeles Lakers Made Official Decision On Luke Walton

The Los Angeles Lakers had a terrible season, and head coach Luke Walton was often criticized for the way he handled the team. His decisions weren’t the best, and the team lost too many games. So, what really happened.

The Lakers announced that Walton will go. The team should have made this decision a lot earlier. Maybe Walton’s replacement would have brought the team to the playoffs. Everything changed when Magic Johnson resigned from his position as director of basketball operations. Many said that Walton would survive the big change. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the head coach is front-runner for the Sacramento Kings job. Missing the playoffs changed everything.

“Can confirm @wojespn report that Kings GM Vlade Divac will fire coach Dave Joerger today. Lakers coach Luke Walton – if available – is the clear frontrunner here, per sources. Former New Orleans coach Monty Williams is also a strong candidate, as is Spurs asst. Ettore Messina,” Amick tweeted.

“The Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton have mutually agreed to part ways, it was announced today by Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka. ‘We would like to thank Luke for his dedicated service over the last three years,’ said general manager Pelinka. ‘We wish Luke and his family the best of luck moving forward.’”

Walton thanked the franchise for everything they have done for him. “I want to thank Jeanie Buss and the Buss family for giving me the opportunity to coach the Lakers,” he said. “This franchise and the city will always be special to me and my family.”

Walton led a disappointing season for the team. Signing LeBron James brought hope to the fanbase, and fans were convinced that the team would make the playoffs. The Lakers got to the fourth position in the Western Conference, but LeBron’s groin injury changed everything. The team lost a lot of games and was pushed outside the playoff picture.

Walton isn’t the one to be blamed for this situation. But, he failed to bring the locker room back together. The Anthony Davis saga affected the relations inside the locker room. The tiny details turned into huge problems.