Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Jason Anderson, The Sacramento Bee
A four-game losing streak has led to heightened speculation about Kings coach Luke Walton’s future in Sacramento with a new report suggesting his job could be in jeopardy if the team’s struggles continue.
The pressure on Walton is mounting as the Kings (5-8) prepare to face the Detroit Pistons (3-9) on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. Citing sources, The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Shams Charania reported Walton’s job “will likely be in peril soon if the current slide continues.”
The Kings went 5-4 to start the season with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets, but the mood in Sacramento has changed following four consecutive losses to the Indiana Pacers, Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Kings will conclude a four-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday before coming home to play the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Blazers during a difficult four-game homestand.
The Kings hired Walton, 41, to replace Dave Joerger in 2019. Walton, who is in the third year of a four-year contract, is 67-90 in his third season in Sacramento. He posted a 98-148 record in three seasons as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after spending two years as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors.
Walton survived two nine-game losing streaks last season, but owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Monte McNair probably won’t show the same kind of patience this season. The Kings have talked about avoiding long losing streaks and improving their historically bad defense, but they’re already struggling to achieve those goals just 13 games into the season.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
WNBA ratings continue to rise, and they were particularly good before the NFL season began. Then the Minnesota Lynx played their only home playoff game opposite a Vikings-Seahawks game at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the deciding game of the Sky-Mercury finals went up against an NFL Sunday.
Stop it. Even baseball, once America's most popular sport, can't compete with the NFL.
The WNBA should seize the summer, when it would be in competition with only baseball, which, during the regular season, is a regional sport. If the WNBA insists on playing in the fall — a mistake — then at least schedule games other times than Sunday afternoon.
As a general sports columnist, I desperately search for topics during the summer and am overloaded with options in the fall. When the Lynx play during the summer, I love covering a meaningful basketball game instead of just another baseball game.
WNBA ratings continue to rise, and they were particularly good before the NFL season began. Then the Minnesota Lynx played their only home playoff game opposite a Vikings-Seahawks game at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the deciding game of the Sky-Mercury finals went up against an NFL Sunday.
Stop it. Even baseball, once America's most popular sport, can't compete with the NFL.
The WNBA should seize the summer, when it would be in competition with only baseball, which, during the regular season, is a regional sport. If the WNBA insists on playing in the fall — a mistake — then at least schedule games other times than Sunday afternoon.
As a general sports columnist, I desperately search for topics during the summer and am overloaded with options in the fall. When the Lynx play during the summer, I love covering a meaningful basketball game instead of just another baseball game.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Stacy Bengs
Last year the Lynx had to "cut'' Layshia Clarendon or Rachel Banham to stay in compliance with roster and payroll limitations.
On a related note, new Lynx/Timberwolves owner Mark Lore texted Lynx GM and coach Cheryl Reeve to ask why WNBA player salaries were so low.
Lore became a billionaire by investing heavily in ideas he loved. NBA owners who also own WNBA franchises should see the growth and positive trends surrounding the WNBA and pay the players, expand the rosters, expand the league and, later, reap the rewards, just like the investment-first owners in every major men's sport has done over the last century.
Stacy Bengs
Last year the Lynx had to "cut'' Layshia Clarendon or Rachel Banham to stay in compliance with roster and payroll limitations.
On a related note, new Lynx/Timberwolves owner Mark Lore texted Lynx GM and coach Cheryl Reeve to ask why WNBA player salaries were so low.
Lore became a billionaire by investing heavily in ideas he loved. NBA owners who also own WNBA franchises should see the growth and positive trends surrounding the WNBA and pay the players, expand the rosters, expand the league and, later, reap the rewards, just like the investment-first owners in every major men's sport has done over the last century.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Paul Beaty
The Chicago Sky brought to their victory party the door that Mercury star Diana Taurasi broke during the finals. Brilliant.
The WNBA already has brilliant players, brilliant basketball and brilliant competition to sell. What has made the NFL an overwhelming success is the way people react to it. They bet, play fantasy football, overreact, follow social media for interpersonal dramas and memes and insults.
Play it up. Have some fun. Engage fan emotions.
Paul Beaty
The Chicago Sky brought to their victory party the door that Mercury star Diana Taurasi broke during the finals. Brilliant.
The WNBA already has brilliant players, brilliant basketball and brilliant competition to sell. What has made the NFL an overwhelming success is the way people react to it. They bet, play fantasy football, overreact, follow social media for interpersonal dramas and memes and insults.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Paul Beaty
Yes, so much of this comes down to money. The WNBA needs to pay its players enough that they don't need or want to play overseas. Napheesa Collier didn't make it back for the beginning of the 2021 season and Kayla McBride missed training camp. If the Lynx had gotten off to a faster start, they may have earned a second bye, and Clarendon, a key to their success, might have been healthier.
Paul Beaty
Yes, so much of this comes down to money. The WNBA needs to pay its players enough that they don't need or want to play overseas. Napheesa Collier didn't make it back for the beginning of the 2021 season and Kayla McBride missed training camp. If the Lynx had gotten off to a faster start, they may have earned a second bye, and Clarendon, a key to their success, might have been healthier.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Kathy Willens
All WNBA games should be available on readily-accessible broadcast channels. Facebook doesn't deserve this league, and watching games on Twitter is annoying, and forcing fans to buy an extra subscription is a bad idea.
You can gouge people after you've captured a satisfactory market share. Not now.
Kathy Willens
All WNBA games should be available on readily-accessible broadcast channels. Facebook doesn't deserve this league, and watching games on Twitter is annoying, and forcing fans to buy an extra subscription is a bad idea.
You can gouge people after you've captured a satisfactory market share. Not now.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Star Tribune
The WNBA punches well above its weight when it comes to social issues and social justice. It is America's most admirable league.
Keep it up. The people alienated by your stances were never going to attend a WNBA game, anyway. There are millions of good people out there who will gravitate toward women's basketball as the league grows in popularity and scope.
And as Maya Moore has demonstrated, there are things in life more important than basketball. Keep using basketball as a means to make the world a better place. It will pay off.
It already has.
Star Tribune
The WNBA punches well above its weight when it comes to social issues and social justice. It is America's most admirable league.
Keep it up. The people alienated by your stances were never going to attend a WNBA game, anyway. There are millions of good people out there who will gravitate toward women's basketball as the league grows in popularity and scope.
And as Maya Moore has demonstrated, there are things in life more important than basketball. Keep using basketball as a means to make the world a better place. It will pay off.
Report: Kings coach Luke Walton on the hot seat; could be fired if losing streak continues
Ronald Cortes/Getty Images North America/TNS
In this file photo, Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton complains about a call during action against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on March 29, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images/TNS)
Ronald Cortes/Getty Images North America/TNS
In this file photo, Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton complains about a call during action against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on March 29, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images/TNS)
