The Sacramento Kings’ slide has cost Luke Walton his job.
Walton was fired as coach of the Kings on Sunday, ESPN reported, after a 6-11 start to the season and losing seven of their last eight games. Associate head coach Alvin Gentry, who was most recently the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, is being named interim head coach, according to multiple reports.
Walton, 41, was in his third season at the helm in Sacramento and finishes with a 68-93 record. Walton had previously coached his former team, the Lakers, from 2016 to 2019. He went 98-148 in his three seasons in Los Angeles.
Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton is restrained by assistant coach Alvin Gentry during the second quarter against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 20, 2021. USA TODAY SportsThe noise surrounding Walton’s tenuous job status had grown in recent days after he had survived back-to-back 31-41 seasons. The Kings, with a young core, started the season 5-4 before entering their current tailspin, which had their own fans chanting “Fire Luke Walton” at recent home games.
