FILE PHOTO: Nov 19, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton calls out from the sideline during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Luke Walton, former head coach of the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, will join the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
Walton was fired as Sacramento’s head coach after the team started the 2021-22 season with a 6-11 record. The Kings went 68-93 in two-plus seasons under Walton.
Before coaching at Sacramento, Walton was at the Lakers’ helm for three seasons, going 98-148. He became the Lakers’ coach in 2016-17 after spending two seasons as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors.
Under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers finished this past NBA regular season 44-38 and were eliminated from the play-in tournament, defeating the Brooklyn Nets before falling to the Atlanta Hawks.
Walton, 42, was an NBA player for 10 seasons. He finished his career with the Cavs in 2012-13, playing 50 games while scoring 3.4 points per game.