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Is Luke Walton Ready to Fill Alvin Gentry’s Shoes?

By Shereen Rayan

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The Golden State Warriors lost their Associate Head Coach Alvin Gentry to the New Orleans Pelicans which was a good move for Gentry, but leaves a whole for the Warriors.

On May 18th, Associate Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors, Alvin Gentry was granted an interview with the New Orleans Pelicans team, the Warriors were not yet NBA champions. Gentry had expressed earlier that he wouldn’t leave the Warriors unless it was for a team who would be a contender.

When the Pelicans signed Anthony Davis to a five-year, $145 million extension or mega deal, Gentry saw great potential in the team and the team needed someone just like Gentry to mold the young phenom.

As we know now, Gentry helped the Warriors to a National championship and exited gracefully and let the world know how excited he was.

According to Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated, Alvin Gentry is a perfect fit for the New Orleans Pelicans, he has a ton of experience:

"New Orleans desperately needed a trustworthy hand to guide Davis through the second chapter of his career, and Gentry is well-suited to that task. He’s the type of candidate who checks all the boxes: he has 30-plus years of coaching experience, he has 12 seasons of head coaching experience (compiling a 355-370 record), he’s reached the conference finals as a head coach in 2010 with the Suns and as an assistant on multiple occasions, he’s worked with or for a number of well-respected coaches (Kerr, Doc Rivers, D’Antoni), he has a clear philosophy that should work with the Pelicans’ core, he’s worked with multiple All-Star power forwards during his career (Stoudemire and Blake Griffin)"

Hats of to Coach Gentry, a very familiar face to Suns, Heat, Warriors and Clippers fans.

Jun 22, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry holds up a jersey during a press conference at the New Orleans Pelicans Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

This leaves a huge vacancy for the Golden State Warriors under Head Coach Steve Kerr. According to Diamond Leung of the Mercury News, “Warriors coach Steve Kerr said two weeks ago that Walton was ready to take the next step. In Kerr’s opinion, Walton is a future NBA head coach.” Mainly because he has a “great offensive mind.”

Luke’s response was a humble one, “If there’s an interview process, then I’d be happy to interview, it’s not a real big concern on my part. A coaching career’s a long career. I’m happy where I’m at. I look forward to learning more next year and becoming a better coach. And whether that’s as a promoted one or the same, that’s kind of out of my control. I did everything I could this year, so that’s up to them on what they want to do.”

April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton (left) and head coach Steve Kerr (right) react during the second quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Luke has a couple of years of coaching under his belt and a 10 of years of playing in the NBA. He has learned from the best coaches such as Lute Olson, Phil Jackson, and Steve Kerr. Steve Kerr also learned from both Lute Olson and Phil Jackson. Luke has already commanded the players and coaches respect, so even though he doesn’t have the decades of experience as Coach Gentry did, he has already proven he has what it takes.

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Walton’s first year as a coach was impressive to his fellow coaches as well. “I think he relates well to the team, to the individuals. That’s really important. I think he has a good feel for the game, sees the game well, and probably was one of those guys when they played that analyzed the game and absorbed a lot rather than just going through the process,” Warriors assistant coach Ron Adams said.

I am personally wishing Luke Walton much luck on this upcoming promotion whether it happens this year or in future years. I always knew great things were in store for him after 10-year NBA Career as a player. Just looking at this photo above, ironically taken in a game against the Pelicans last season, he already looks in lock step with Head Coach and fellow former Arizona Wildcat Head Coach Steve Kerr.

October 29, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Warriors defeated the Kings 95-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

This Lakers and Arizona Wildcats fan has met Luke (Luuuukkkeeee for Lakers fans) a couple of times, and each time it was an absolute pleasure. Exchanging “Beardown” sentiment with Luke at the Lakers All Access event a couple of years ago was something I will never forget; former Trojan Nick Young and Bruin Jordan Farmar were a little jealous of our “Wildcats” connection I must say.

I have always been a fan of his, and wanted good things to come his way. He endured a lot of critism towards the end of his playing career, ironically with the Cleveland Caveliers. All-inall, Luke Walton is a class act, and already a three-time NBA champion including two with the Lakers and one with the Golden State Warriors.

One final celebration for last seasons NBA Champions, the Golden State Wildcats (coaches eventually join the celebration around 4:35):

Beardown Luke! Have fun coaching the Warriors Summer League team!

Next: Parker Jackson-Cartwright is making the most out of his summer

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