Luke Walton’s attorney calls sexual assault allegation ‘not credible’

Luke Walton has hired an attorney to defend him against a sexual assault lawsuit that was filed by a former reporter, and the lawyer insists the claims are baseless.

The attorney, Mark Baute, released a statement early Tuesday morning labeling former SportsNet LA reporter Kelli Tennant an “opportunist.”

Luke Walton’s attorney Mark Baute’s statement regarding Kelli Tennant’s lawsuit:
“Luke Walton retained me to defend him against these baseless allegations. The accuser is an opportunist, not a victim, and her claim is not credible. We intend to prove this in a courtroom.”

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 23, 2019

Tennant has made disturbing allegations against Walton that stem from when he was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. She said Walton requested a meeting with her at his hotel after she wanted him to write a foreword to a book she was writing, and he physically forced himself on her in a sexual manner. Tennant says she did not initially report the incident but that Walton continued to behave in an inappropriate manner toward her when they encountered one another after that.

Walton was recently hired as the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. The Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors all say they were unaware of the lawsuit or allegations.