NBA: Grading first-year head coaches for the 2019-20 season

Luke Walton, Sacramento Kings

After falling short of the playoffs last season – they finished as the ninth seed in the West – the Sacramento Kings were hoping that a coaching change would help push them through in the conference and finally end its postseason drought.

The hope was that Luke Walton, who “mutually parted ways” with the Lakers, would be the man to help lead the Kings back to the playoffs.

Despite having to overcome injuries to Marvin Bagley, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and De’Aaron Fox, which resulted in somewhat of a slow start for the team, the Kings still managed to climb back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. In fact, at the time of the hiatus, the Kings were only 3.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8th and final playoff spot.

Walton might not earn many, if any, votes for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award, but there’s no question he had the Kings some of their best basketball when it mattered most. At the very least, it’s too early to tell one way or another if he will end up being the long-term answer for the Kings at head coach.

Grade: B-