National Basketball Association

Warriors grant Lakers permission to interview Luke Walton

Published Apr. 27, 2016 11:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers received permission from the Warriors to interview top assistant Luke Walton for their coaching vacancy.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday before Game 5 of the playoffs against Houston that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak contacted Warriors GM Bob Myers, who said Walton could interview once the first-round series is done. The Warriors held a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series going into Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Walton, who won two championships during his nine seasons playing for the Lakers, guided defending champion Golden State to a record 24-0 start this season while filling in for Kerr when the coach was on a leave of absence following complications from two back surgeries. Overall, Walton was 39-4 while Kerr was out, and he finished eighth in Coach of the Year voting.

Los Angeles fired Byron Scott on Sunday night.