A video of LeBron James seemingly ignoring Luke Walton during a timeout in a recent game will do nothing to change the perception that the Los Angeles Lakers star is not a fan of his head coach.
The Lakers have lost four of their last five games, beginning with a defeat at New Orleans last week. During a timeout in the first quarter of the Lakers’ loss to the Pelicans, Walton was talking to his team in a huddle, while James stood away with his back to the coach.
That clip does not show the entire timeout for the Lakers, but James standing away from the team while Walton goes over things with his other players does not reflect well on the former MVP.
Going back to late January, a report emerged saying James’ camp preferred a coaching change from Walton. And in a column written on Sunday, The New York Times’ Marc Stein said the assumption is that Walton will be fired.
The prevailing assumption in league coaching circles remains that Walton will almost certainly be dismissed after the season, followed by the Lakers resuming their trade quest for [Anthony] Davis.
This video clip seems to match the perception that James does not feel Walton is the right coach for the job. Going back to when he signed with the team in July, he didn’t seem to care much about Walton. Ownership seems to have made a commitment to Walton, but that may only last the season.
More must-reads: