OAKLAND: The Golden State Warriors have given the Los Angeles Lakers permission to approach assistant coach Luke Walton for their vacant top job.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr confirmed that the reigning NBA champions had told Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak they could meet Walton following their series win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
"We told Mitch that he's perfectly welcome to talk to Luke as soon as the series is over and we have a little break," Kerr said.
Walton is a firm favorite with the Lakers having played on two NBA championship-winning teams during his nine seasons as a player in Los Angeles.
The 36-year-old filled in for Kerr earlier this season and led the Warriors to a 39-4 record as the Golden State coach recovered from back surgery.
Although the wins were credited to Kerr under NBA rules, Walton is seen as an up-and-coming coaching talent.
He is already reported to have turned down an approach from the New York Knicks about their head-coaching job.
Warriors GM Bob Myers said he expects Walton to take up a head coach job eventually.
"Luke is gonna be a head coach someday, but he's gonna be deliberate about how he goes about it, which is smart," Myers said.
"He's got good options, I think he'll continue to have good options. He's in a good place."
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