Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Reasons To Be Excited

By Stephen Findley

April 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of balloons and confetti falling following the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 victory against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of balloons and confetti falling following the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 victory against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
January 14, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (left) hugs Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24, right) after the game at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 14, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (left) hugs Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24, right) after the game at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

1. New Head Coach Luke Walton

Luke Walton shares some characteristics with his predecessor Byron Scott. However, Walton gives Lakers fans’ hope for the future in a way that never seemed to materialize with Scott.

Walton is a student of the game. He brings the perspective from playing (LA Lakers), not playing (Cleveland Cavaliers) and being on the sideline coaching as the lead assistant and de facto head coach in Steve Kerr’s absence (Golden State Warriors).

Walton was a successful contributor within the triangle and he carries a solid endorsement from Kobe Bryant (per Serena Winters of LakersNation):

"“He always had a really brilliant mind & understanding flow & tempo & spacing & how to manage a team the right way.” Kobe Bryant"

Through the Warriors, Walton had a hand in the pace and space era of basketball — despite his old school grounding with Phil Jackson and the triangle, he is also fully immersed in the emerging future of the game.

Like Scott, Walton has a great relationship with the Lakers organization. Unlike Scott, he brings a forward thinking mentality to the structure of a championship team primed as the lead in Steve Kerr’s staff. For one, he will encourage the Lakers to shoot more three-pointers!

Next: 2. Kupchak Salary Cap Space

Home/Los Angeles Lakers