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That didn’t take long.
A day after “mutually parting ways” with the Los Angeles Lakers, former Arizona Wildcats standout Luke Walton has reportedly found his next job a few hours north of his old one.
The Kings and Luke Walton have agreed to terms for him to be the next coach, a source tells @TheAthleticNBA. The length of his deal will be in line with that of Kings GM Vlade Divac, running through the 2022-23 season.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 13, 2019
Walton went 98-148 in three seasons with the Lakers, failing to make the playoffs in any year. The arrival of LeBron James this past season only resulted in a two-game improvement in the Lakers’ record, prompting the change.
The Kings fired Dave Joerger earlier this week despite coaching them to a 39-43 record, a 12-game improvement.
The 39-year-old Walton returns to northern California, where he spent three seasons on fellow ex-Wildcat Steve Kerr’s Golden State Warriors staff.
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) July 2, 2018
Walton played at Arizona from 1999-2003, averaging 9.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 129 games.