Flywin Lannister
Superstar
Everybody
Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton says he believes he has a "great relationship with management" and does not feel like he is "going anywhere."
Walton spoke with the media hours after ESPN reported that Lakers president Magic Johnson met with the coach on Tuesday and admonished him following a winless two-game road trip. League sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin that Johnson's message to Walton increased the pressure on the coach to deliver winning results sooner rather than later, an about-face from Johnson's public comments regarding patience at the outset of training camp.
Walton would not go into detail about his meeting with Johnson but answered a question about whether he believes management will give him the leeway needed to turn around a rocky 3-5 start with so many new pieces. The Lakers also have a difficult opening schedule and lost starters Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram to recently completed suspensions.
"I feel like I have a great relationship with management, yes," said Walton, who spoke with general manager Rob Pelinka after practice and before the Lakers flew to Portland.
Asked if he feels he has job security, Walton replied, "I feel like I'm coming down here to do my job and coach."
Walton signed a five-year contract with Los Angeles in April 2016 worth reportedly $25 million to $30 million. At the time of his hiring, the Lakers were being managed by then-GM Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, the brother of Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss.
The coach would not elaborate when asked specifically about the ESPN report, saying what is discussed between him and management is private.
"What we discuss in our meetings is between us, but ... we have been saying since the beginning, we're going to be patient," Walton said. "We know where we're going, we know how to get there, and it takes time and it takes hard work. Right now, our guys work extremely hard. We've had a couple setbacks with some suspensions, but we've played some good teams and we've had a chance to win a lot of those games.
"We plan on winning those in the future, and we're going to keep working and getting better and we're going to be just fine."
Walton mum on Magic talk, 'here to do my job'
Will Luke make December? I think they'd be insane not to keep him as a coach.. because we all know: Bron coaches his teams (which is not ideal!) Will Bron stop playing Bron ball (I'm very happy he's a Laker but we have PG's.. he can do so much playing off the ball also.. and we're way more unpredictable)? Let's see what happens brehs. NBA BYKE!
Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton says he believes he has a "great relationship with management" and does not feel like he is "going anywhere."
Walton spoke with the media hours after ESPN reported that Lakers president Magic Johnson met with the coach on Tuesday and admonished him following a winless two-game road trip. League sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin that Johnson's message to Walton increased the pressure on the coach to deliver winning results sooner rather than later, an about-face from Johnson's public comments regarding patience at the outset of training camp.
Walton would not go into detail about his meeting with Johnson but answered a question about whether he believes management will give him the leeway needed to turn around a rocky 3-5 start with so many new pieces. The Lakers also have a difficult opening schedule and lost starters Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram to recently completed suspensions.
"I feel like I have a great relationship with management, yes," said Walton, who spoke with general manager Rob Pelinka after practice and before the Lakers flew to Portland.
Asked if he feels he has job security, Walton replied, "I feel like I'm coming down here to do my job and coach."
Walton signed a five-year contract with Los Angeles in April 2016 worth reportedly $25 million to $30 million. At the time of his hiring, the Lakers were being managed by then-GM Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, the brother of Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss.
The coach would not elaborate when asked specifically about the ESPN report, saying what is discussed between him and management is private.
"What we discuss in our meetings is between us, but ... we have been saying since the beginning, we're going to be patient," Walton said. "We know where we're going, we know how to get there, and it takes time and it takes hard work. Right now, our guys work extremely hard. We've had a couple setbacks with some suspensions, but we've played some good teams and we've had a chance to win a lot of those games.
"We plan on winning those in the future, and we're going to keep working and getting better and we're going to be just fine."
Walton mum on Magic talk, 'here to do my job'
Will Luke make December? I think they'd be insane not to keep him as a coach.. because we all know: Bron coaches his teams (which is not ideal!) Will Bron stop playing Bron ball (I'm very happy he's a Laker but we have PG's.. he can do so much playing off the ball also.. and we're way more unpredictable)? Let's see what happens brehs. NBA BYKE!
