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SPORTS Saturday 13 april 2019

Luke Walton out as Lakers coach after 3 losing seasons

By GREG BEACHAM Conference at 20-14 after
AP Sports Writer beating Golden State last
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Christmas, but James and
Walton is out as coach of Rondo were injured dur-
the Los Angeles Lakers after ing the game. The Lakers’
three losing seasons. season fell apart during the
Lakers general manager longest injury absence of
Rob Pelinka announced James’ career, and they
Walton’s departure Friday, ended the season with
three days after the abrupt nearly every important
resignation of president player in their young core
of basketball operations sidelined by injuries. Wal-
Magic Johnson. Pelinka ton was tasked with one of
called Walton leaving a the most difficult jobs in the
mutual decision. NBA this season. Johnson
The former Lakers forward and Pelinka gave him an
went 98-148 after getting oddly constructed roster of
his first permanent head idiosyncratic NBA veterans
coaching job with the 16- on one-year deals playing
time NBA champions. The alongside James and sev-
former Golden State assis- eral talented youngsters
tant never led the Lakers to including Brandon Ingram,
the playoffs, not even after Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton gestures during the second half of the team’s NBA Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and
the arrival of LeBron James basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Josh Hart.
last summer. Trail Blazers won 104-101. Walton’s Lakers also were
Walton leaves three days Associated Press rattled by Johnson’s mid-
after the Lakers’ final game in a possible sign of the State’s interim coach when are. I feel for Luke.” The Lak- season pursuit of disgrun-
of their 37-45 season was increased organizational Kerr was sidelined by health ers improved their record tled New Orleans forward
upstaged by the shock- power of Kobe Bryant’s for- issues to start the 2015-16 in each of Walton’s three Anthony Davis in a trade
ing pregame resignation mer agent. season, and he led the seasons, but never finished that would have resulted in
of Johnson, who inherited “I want to thank Jeanie Warriors to a 24-0 start and higher than third place in a complete roster upheav-
Walton when he took over Buss and the Buss family a 39-4 record before Kerr the Pacific Division. The al. Several Lakers acknowl-
the Lakers’ front office in for giving me the opportu- returned to the bench. current Lakers were the edged the shadowy pur-
February 2017. Johnson nity to coach the Lakers,” “They’re losing one of the franchise’s most success- suit’s impact on their play.
attributed his decision in Walton said in a statement best human beings in the ful team since their playoff “It affected us a lot,” guard
part to his desire and reluc- issued by the Lakers. “This NBA. They’re losing a guy drought began in 2013, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
tance to fire Walton, who is franchise and the city will who knows the game as it wasn’t enough to save said. “Once the trade talk
close to Lakers owner Jean- always be special to me well as anybody I’ve ever Walton’s job. was there, the locker room
ie Buss. and my family.” met,” Kerr said Friday in “I think Luke did a hell of a changed. Everybody was
A potential power struggle Walton joined the Lakers Oakland. “They’re losing job with what he had, the pretty much worried about
instead ended with both with fanfare in 2016 after his somebody who players cards he was dealt,” point that, especially guys that
men out of their jobs after successful tenure alongside believe in, players want guard Rajon Rondo said. haven’t been through it.
this wild week. Pelinka, who coach Steve Kerr with the to play for. But again, he “The guys fought every They were worried where
was hired along with John- powerhouse Warriors. Wal- was dependent on circum- night.” Los Angeles was in they were going to end
son, announced the move ton stepped in as Golden stances, just like all of us fourth place in the Western up.”q

Shorter season? Shorter games? Silver ponders NBA format

By BRIAN MAHONEY international games. Sil- NBA by offering teams
AP Basketball Writer ver has focused on player more opportunities to win
NEW YORK (AP) — Com- health as commissioner, something, instead of just
missioner Adam Silver men- opening the regular sea- having one champion.
tioned shorter games or a son earlier to reduce the “That’s why I’m particularly
shorter season as ways the frequency of back-to-back interested in looking at dif-
NBA could make its future games, and lengthening ferent kinds of formats — at
product better for players the All-Star break. But play- midseason tournaments,
and fans. ers are still sitting out games for example, play-in tour-
Silver again talked Friday throughout the season, of- naments — because even
about the possibility of al- ten for reasons being list- accepting that players
tering the 82-game sched- ed as load management. have so many miles on their
ule, either as a way to cut Even if 82 games remains bodies, there may be bet-
down on players sitting out the format, Silver is in- ter ways to present it,” Silver
games, or to introduce new In this Feb. 16, 2019, file photo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver trigued by ways the sched- said. “Assuming guys are
types of competition. speaks during the NBA All-Star festivities in Charlotte, N.C. uled can be arranged. He going to play 82 games,
“I think a fair point from fans Associated Press has pointed to European maybe there should be a
could be if ultimately the game season,” Silver said. of-season tournaments soccer, which has tourna- certain number of games
science suggests that 82 “I accept that, and that’s could be one option, as ments along with its league in the regular season and
games is too many games something we’ll continue could trimming games from games during the season, then there should be two
for these players, maybe to look at.” He said the ad- 48 minutes to 40, which is as something that could tournaments throughout
you shouldn’t have an 82- dition of midseason or end- the length of college and bring new interest to the the season.” q