By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Los Angeles Lakers announced late Friday night that they had reached a multi-year agreement with Luke Walton to become their next head coach.
Walton was the Lakers’ first choice. Had he hesitated or said no, the team was going to turn its attention to Italian coach Ettore Messina according to USA Today.
Walton, an assistant for the Golden State Warriors who also played nine seasons for the Lakers, led the Warriors to a 39-4 record to begin the season and at age 36 he becomes the league’s youngest active coach.
“We’re excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he’s going to start an outstanding coaching career,” Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said in a release. “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.”