Sean Cunningham: Kings GM Monte McNair on the dismissal of Luke Walton as head coach: After a thorough evaluation of the season thus far, I decided to make a change to the head coach position. I want to thank Luke for his efforts and contributions to our team.”
Tag: Luke Walton
George Karl: Gentry is the right next …
George Karl: Gentry is the right next move for Kings. Players need to play much harder for him. Vivek needs to sell the team.
Chris Haynes: Sacramento Kings have …
Chris Haynes: Sacramento Kings have scheduled a meeting with players at noon to update them on the next move in aftermath of Luke Walton dismissal, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Doug Christie a possibility to be Kings interim coach
Adrian Wojnarowski: Another possible interim coaching candidate: First-year assistant coach Doug Christie. Kings are still discussing the options.
Sam Amick: There has been serious …
Kings fire Luke Walton
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Sacramento Kings fired coach Luke Walton on Sunday, sources told ESPN. Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season – leaving them 12th in the Western Conference. Source: Twitter @wojespn What’s the buzz …
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Sacramento Kings fired coach Luke Walton on Sunday, sources told ESPN. Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season – leaving them 12th in the Western Conference.
Source: Twitter @wojespn
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Luke Walton getting fired after the barf game is just… pic.twitter.com/DidHWO8tE5 – 1:07 PM
Luke Walton getting fired after the barf game is just… pic.twitter.com/DidHWO8tE5 – 1:07 PM
The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Luke Walton, according to @Adrian Wojnarowski. pic.twitter.com/tmNLfo2jXd – 1:06 PM
The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Luke Walton, according to @Adrian Wojnarowski. pic.twitter.com/tmNLfo2jXd – 1:06 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Luke Walton to Alvin Gentry is one of the biggest vibes upgrades imaginable. – 1:04 PM
Luke Walton to Alvin Gentry is one of the biggest vibes upgrades imaginable. – 1:04 PM
James Ham @James_HamNBA
Source confirms that Luke Walton has been fired by the Sacramento Kings. @Adrian Wojnarowski first – 1:02 PM
Source confirms that Luke Walton has been fired by the Sacramento Kings. @Adrian Wojnarowski first – 1:02 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The Sacramento Kings fired coach Luke Walton on Sunday, sources told ESPN. Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season – leaving them 12th in the Western Conference. – 12:59 PM
The Sacramento Kings fired coach Luke Walton on Sunday, sources told ESPN. Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season – leaving them 12th in the Western Conference. – 12:59 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Fire Luke Walton chants starting up as the Jazz’s lead grows to 20. – 12:26 AM
Fire Luke Walton chants starting up as the Jazz’s lead grows to 20. – 12:26 AM
Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Make that a 12-2 Utah Jazz run to start the 4th. Kings down 14, their largest deficit of the game. Luke Walton burns the timeout. – 11:57 PM
Make that a 12-2 Utah Jazz run to start the 4th. Kings down 14, their largest deficit of the game. Luke Walton burns the timeout. – 11:57 PM
Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Kings coach Luke Walton popped for a technical arguing a foul called on Tyrese Haliburton against Rudy Gobert – 10:38 PM
Kings coach Luke Walton popped for a technical arguing a foul called on Tyrese Haliburton against Rudy Gobert – 10:38 PM
Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Luke Walton goes to Alex Len and Moe Harkless to join Buddy Hield of the Kings bench – 10:21 PM
Luke Walton goes to Alex Len and Moe Harkless to join Buddy Hield of the Kings bench – 10:21 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Jazz/Kings about to start: Jazz in the yellow statement jerseys, Kings in traditional purple. Luke Walton gets a smattering of boos pregame. – 10:10 PM
Jazz/Kings about to start: Jazz in the yellow statement jerseys, Kings in traditional purple. Luke Walton gets a smattering of boos pregame. – 10:10 PM
James Ham @James_HamNBA
Luke Walton discussed how he is holding up during the current downturn and what they are preaching to the team: pic.twitter.com/XwBC7lmOho – 8:36 PM
Luke Walton discussed how he is holding up during the current downturn and what they are preaching to the team: pic.twitter.com/XwBC7lmOho – 8:36 PM
Bill Herenda @billherenda
ICYMI — Talked #Kings & Luke Walton with @KittyONealSac on @kfbk before last night’s loss to #Toronto — #Jazz in Sac tonight bit.ly/3cvRNzp #SacramentoProud #TakeNote #WeTheNorth #NBA @iHeartRadio – 6:19 PM
ICYMI — Talked #Kings & Luke Walton with @KittyONealSac on @kfbk before last night’s loss to #Toronto — #Jazz in Sac tonight bit.ly/3cvRNzp #SacramentoProud #TakeNote #WeTheNorth #NBA @iHeartRadio – 6:19 PM
More on this storyline
Jason Anderson: Can confirm per sources the Sacramento Kings have fired coach Luke Walton, as first reported by @Adrian Wojnarowski. -via Twitter @JandersonSacBee / November 21, 2021
Adrian Wojnarowski: Kings associate head coach Alvin Gentry – a five-time head coach in the NBA – is expected get strong consideration to serve as interim head coach. Walton was 68-93 in two-plus seasons as Kings coach. -via Twitter @wojespn / November 21, 2021
Kings fire Luke Walton
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Sacramento Kings fired coach Luke Walton on Sunday, sources told ESPN. Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season – leaving them 12th in the Western Conference.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Kings associate …
Adrian Wojnarowski: Kings associate head coach Alvin Gentry – a five-time head coach in the NBA – is expected get strong consideration to serve as interim head coach. Walton was 68-93 in two-plus seasons as Kings coach.
Jason Anderson: Can confirm per sources …
Jason Anderson: Can confirm per sources the Sacramento Kings have fired coach Luke Walton, as first reported by @Adrian Wojnarowski.
Tristan Thompson made a pretty great point about playing in the NBA during his NSFW rant
Points were made.
The Sacramento Kings have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NBA so far this season.
They’re off to a 6-9 start and are just outside of the play-in range behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (!!!!) and Memphis Grizzlies. And, look, it’s still early. But being behind the Thunder in anything is not a great look for any team. That’s why Luke Walton is on the hot seat now.
Things got worse for the Kings on Wednesday night when the team lost 107-97 to the Timberwolves.
Tristan Thompson was asked about the team’s effort and whether they needed to be more motivated by Walton after the loss. He teed off on a NSFW rant that…he actually made some pretty good points in.
He says it’s not about Walton. It’s not his job to get players ready to play — they should already be ready.
Thompson shares his thoughts.
(via @MattGeorgeSAC)pic.twitter.com/vPVYlE0Sh9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 18, 2021
“It’s not about coach Walton inspiring you…You’ve got to be ready to play. Your number is called, you’re in the damn game. I don’t need to f****** coach to inspire me. Never that, never have, never will. The day I need a coach to inspire me is the day I’m retiring. I’ll go play with my kids in the park.”
Sheesh. Well, clearly, points were made here.
Thompson is right. Needing a coach for inspiration sounds good, but at the end of the day these are professional basketball players playing at the highest level. It’s not about inspiration at that point — it’s about execution.
If people want to blame Walton for something, blame him for his system. Blame him for the X’s and O’s not playing out how they should.
But inspiration? That’s not on him. That’s on the player, as Thompson said in more than a few colorful words. Walton shouldn’t be blamed for that.
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