5 Reasons For Los Angeles Lakers Fans To Be Optimistic In 2016-17

The Hiring Of Luke Walton

Young, relatively inexperienced head coaches are always a bit concerning in the NBA. You never quite know what you’re going to get, especially when they take over a rebuilding roster like the Lakers’.

And yet, I couldn’t think of a better way to start this off than by mentioning the buzz surrounding the hiring of Luke Walton. The former Lakers bench player never really saw his star rise as a player, but it’s looking like he could be headed for a huge career with a clipboard in his hands.

Luckily for the Lakers, he was nice enough to bring his talents back to the Staples Center.

Walton spent the last two years as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. During that time, he played a huge role in their unparalleled success, including serving as interim head coach during the team’s historic 24-0 start last season.

He parlayed that success into his current position, which could be the start of great things for the Lakers. Walton is well-respected among the NBA community, and proved last year that he’s more than capable of leading a team to victory.

The hill may be harder to climb in Los Angeles, but he’s got a solid foundation of talent to work with.

In my opinion, it all starts with a great coach. The Lakers found that in Walton, which is why fans should be very optimistic about this team’s chances in 2016-17.

Next: A Rookie With A Sky-High Ceiling