Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton is headed back to Los Angeles after agreeing to a multi-year contract to become the Lakers new head NBA coach.
"We're excited to bring Luke back to Los Angeles, where we feel he's going to start an outstanding career," said team general manager Mitch Kupchak late on Friday of the former Laker champion.
"He's one of the brightest coaching minds in the game and we feel fortunate that he'll be leading the on-court future of our team."
Walton, 36, will take over the Lakers at the end of the Warriors' season.
In his second year as an assistant with Golden State, Walton stepped in and guided the defending NBA Champions to a 39-4 record when head coach Steve Kerr was forced to miss the start of the season with complications from two off-season back surgeries.
"We're incredible happy for Luke," newly minted NBA coach of the year Kerr said. "As we witnessed earlier this season, he has all the intangibles necessary to be an outstanding head coach in this league, including an outstanding understanding of the game.
"He's certainly ready for this opportunity and I'm confident he'll do a great job with the Lakers once our season is complete."
Walton inherits the Lakers, who finished the season with a franchise-record worst 17-65 mark before last week firing head coach Byron Scott.
