The Detroit Pistons just dropped their new squad of assistant coaches under head coach JB Bickerstaff. One name that stands out is Luke Walton—son of NBA legend Bill Walton. Luke’s been making his own mark in the league, both on the court as a player and now on the sidelines as an assistant coach.
Did you know Luke ran alongside Kobe Bryant, snagging two championships before stepping into the coaching world? Let’s dive into his story and see how those experiences built his passion and grit for the game.
Luke Walton’s journey from player to coach
Born to NBA legend Bill Walton in 1980, it’s no shock that Luke Walton chased a basketball career. He got his start at the University of San Diego High School in California, laying the groundwork for what was to come. Then he joined the University of Arizona, where his game really took off. Dropping over 15 points, scoring 7 boards, and getting 6 assists per game, Luke was talented. You could feel that momentum building—he was on a clear path to the NBA, ready to carve out his legacy in a game that runs deep in his blood.
With the skills he showed off in college, it was no shocker when Luke Walton got picked by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 32nd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. During his nine years with the Lakers, he became a fan favorite as a solid reserve, helping the squad snag two championships—so yeah, he’s got that NBA champ status twice! In 2012, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played for a season before calling it quits.
After his playing career didn’t turn out the way he wanted, Luke Walton wasn’t about to give up. His love for basketball was too strong, so he switched gears and went into coaching. Walton’s first coaching gig kicked off in 2011 while he was still in the NBA, and he made an impression right away. After hanging up his jersey, the Lakers saw his potential and brought him on as a development coach for the Los Angeles D-Fenders, now the South Bay Lakers since the name change in 2017. This started his coaching journey, letting him pour his passion for the game into helping the next wave of players.
Luke Walton’s coaching career
After grinding as a development coach for the Lakers’ G League team, Luke Walton hit a major career milestone in 2014 when he became an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. The next year, he was riding high, celebrating his third championship as the Warriors took down the Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals. What’s wild is that Walton stepped in as head coach when Steve Kerr was out, and he led the squad to a jaw-dropping 19-0 start. That season was legendary, with the Warriors finishing an insane 73-9 as defending champs. Walton was key to that success, snagging the Western Conference Coach of the Month honors.
In 2016, Luke Walton’s real head coaching journey kicked off with the Lakers. While he didn’t hit the same success as he did with the Warriors, he definitely made some strides in improving the squad. His time there was marked by big moments, like when Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson took over and when LeBron James signed with the team in 2019. Even though Walton didn’t snag a championship like he did in Golden State, his run with the Lakers was still meaningful.
In 2019, Luke Walton and the Lakers parted ways, and he took over as head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. The Kings wrapped up his first season with a rough 31-41 record, and the next season didn’t show much improvement either. It was a tough gig for Walton, trying to turn things around in a challenging environment. By 2021, the Kings and Walton called it quits, marking an emotional chapter in his coaching journey.
In 2022, Luke Walton kicked off a fresh chapter as an assistant coach under JB Bickerstaff for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now he’s rocking the same role with the Detroit Pistons. After some tough seasons as a head coach, Walton took a step back, but his experience—both as a head coach and assistant—is huge. Now, he’s got the chance to help the Pistons grow and showcase his skills again. What are your thoughts on him?
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Debate
Is Luke Walton's coaching career a testament to his skills or just his famous last name?