After the worst season in franchise history, the Los Angeles Lakers hired head coach Luke Walton for the 2016-17 NBA season.
With the Lakers focused on developing their young core, Walton has improved the team’s record by nine wins in each of his first two seasons. As players like Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram have praised the 38-year-old’s coaching style, the circumstances have significantly changed with the arrival of LeBron James in free agency.
Although James signing a four-year, $153 million contract signals some form of patience, the Lakers are expected to compete for championships sooner rather than later.