NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers Hire Former Kings Head Coach Luke Walton As An Assistant

May 31, 2022, 10:09 AM

| Updated: 10:09 am

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 20: Luke Walton head coach of the Sacramento Kings looks on durin...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

BY FRANKIE CARTOSCELLI

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Former Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton has a new job.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Walton as an assistant coach on J.B. Bickerstaff’s bench.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Luke Walton as an assistant coach, sources tell ESPN. Walton joins JB Bickerstaff's coaching staff after spending five-plus years as head coach of the Lakers and Kings. Walton spent his final two seasons as a player with Cleveland a decade ago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 31, 2022

After beginning the 2021-22 season with a 6-11 record, Kings general manager Monte McNair made the decision to excuse Walton from his position.

Over three seasons as Sacramento’s head coach, Walton posted a 68-93 (.422) record over 161 games.

Walton will join a Cavaliers team that surprised the NBA last season by finishing with a 44-38 record. Cleveland spent most of the season near the top of the Eastern Conference standings before injuries to centers Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley derailed the team’s late-season play.

During the 2011-13 seasons, Walton played for the Cavs and averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game over two seasons before retiring as a player.

Follow @FCartoscelli3

NBA

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 31: Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles during the fourth q...

Frankie Cartoscelli

Four Kings score 20 points during blowout win in Portland

If your attention gets removed from a Sacramento Kings game, you might leave a close game and return to a blowout. For two-straight games, the Kings have “turned the jets on” during the second half against a severely short-handed Portland Trail Blazers team, with Friday’s 138-114 win being the team’s second-straight comfortable victory. On the […]

2 days ago

Head coach Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the first half against Sacramento Kin...

Amiliano Fragoso

Bill Reiter says Mike Brown should win Coach of the Year: ‘It’s not even close’

CBS Sports NBA Insider Bill Reiter joined Cattles & Ramie Friday to discuss his thoughts on the Kings clinching a playoff spot, if Sacramento is a playoff contender in the Western Conference, and if some accolades are in order for the coaching staff. All that and more on Cattles & Ramie. “Yeah for Coach of the Year, […]

2 days ago

Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings pushes the button to light the victory beam after a wi...

Amiliano Fragoso

Lance Woods says it ‘don’t matter’ who the Kings have to play in the playoffs

Sacramento native & comedian Lance Woods joined Cattles & Ramie Friday to discuss his thoughts on the Kings clinching a playoff spot, what this means for the city of Sacramento, and what a postseason matchup will look like. All that and more on Cattles & Ramie. “It don’t matter,” Woods said on the show. “If we’re […]

2 days ago

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramen...

Amiliano Fragoso

Which NBA teams have already clinched the playoffs besides the Kings?

After 17 years, the Sacramento Kings have finally clinched a playoff spot. By defeating the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday, 120-80, the Kings have become the third Western Conference team to clinch the postseason currently. Sitting at a record of 46-30, Sacramento will have the chance to clinch the pacific division for the first time since […]

2 days ago