'Premature' To Determine Whether Luke Walton Could Coach All-Star Game

[RealGM Wiretap]

Steve Kerr is ineligible to coach in the All-Star Game since he was the Western Conference head coach last season.

NBA rules prevent the same coach from serving in consecutive years.

But the Golden State Warriors have the best record in the West and have been led by Luke Walton on an interim basis.

League spokesman Tim Frank says it's "premature" to address whether Walton could serve in the role if Steve Kerr hasn't returned from back surgery.

Frank says: "At this point, it is unclear when coach Kerr will return to the sidelines. We are more than two months away from All-Star, so it feels premature to address that situation."

Via AP

[alienpick]

ridiculous. It's obviously the team and not him.

[Sam195]

ridiculous. It's obviously the team and not him.

I find it funny how people are saying anyone can coach the warriors and put down the capabilities of luke walton. Yes he was a bench warmer as an nba player but he got the lead assistant job of coaching one of the league's best teams and one of the best players of this generation in Curry at a pretty young age (similar to Phil Jackson and MJ). Walton has been praised by the likes of Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Mitch Kupchak, and Jerry West as someone who has always had a high basket-ball iq and work ethic both as a player and a coach. Those are some of the greatest minds and talents ever involved with the nba supporting him. Kobe never called out Walton as a bad team mate like he has done in the past with Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and even Dwight Howard. Walton didn't have the physical talent (despite being the son of a hall of famer) to dominate the nba but maybe he has found his calling in another aspect of the game in coaching. And if you watch warriors games and pay attention to the time-outs you can clearly see that the players especially the stars like Draymond and Curry respect and listen to him. Many expect Walton to get bombarded with head coaching interview requests at season's end by many teams both in the nba and from international leagues - and reports are out saying that warriors management has told Kerr to take his time as he recovers from back surgery as they want him to be 100% when the playoffs roll around and are extremely confident in Walton's leadership in the meantime.

[WarriorsEFC]

ridiculous. It's obviously the team and not him.

You could say that about any coach in the all-star game

How would Blatt go without Lebron?

[alienpick]

ridiculous. It's obviously the team and not him.

I find it funny how people are saying anyone can coach the warriors and put down the capabilities of luke walton. Yes he was a bench warmer as an nba player but he got the lead assistant job of coaching one of the league's best teams and one of the best players of this generation in Curry at a pretty young age (similar to Phil Jackson and MJ). Walton has been praised by the likes of Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Mitch Kupchak, and Jerry West as someone who has always had a high basket-ball iq and work ethic both as a player and a coach. Those are some of the greatest minds and talents ever involved with the nba supporting him. Kobe never called out Walton as a bad team mate like he has done in the past with Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and even Dwight Howard. Walton didn't have the physical talent (despite being the son of a hall of famer) to dominate the nba but maybe he has found his calling in another aspect of the game in coaching. And if you watch warriors games and pay attention to the time-outs you can clearly see that the players especially the stars like Draymond and Curry respect and listen to him. Many expect Walton to get bombarded with head coaching interview requests at season's end by many teams both in the nba and from international leagues - and reports are out saying that warriors management has told Kerr to take his time as he recovers from back surgery as they want him to be 100% when the playoffs roll around and are extremely confident in Walton's leadership in the meantime.

well said

[magicmerl]

Eh, Phil Jackson was mediocre as a player too.

That says nothing about your ability as a coach.

In fact, being a great player actually makes it *harder* to be a great coach since you can't empathise with the end of the bench as well.