Nobody usually bats an eye towards NBA interim coaches, who are often seen as placeholders tasked with not screwing up until either the incumbent head coach is able to resume his duties or a new one is hired. But Warriors interim Luke Walton has quickly bulldozed his name to the center stage.
Under Walton’s guidance, Golden State has absolutely blitzkrieged the league en route to a 19-0 start to the 2015-16 season. For Walton, who is at the helm while head coach Steve Kerr recovers from complications of offseason back surgery, the question has been raised as to crediting the 35-year-old interim for the team’s success, since under current NBA guidelines, Kerr still receives credit for all of Walton’s wins and losses.
The debate has grown so loud that the NBA issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying the league’s rules regarding coaching records.
“The head coach of record is credited with team wins and losses,” the statement reaffirmed per Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. “Steve Kerr is the head coach of record for the Golden State Warriors and is credited with those results.”
However, the statement also declared that Walton can be recognized for league coaching awards, such as Coach of the Month and Coach of the Year saying, “Additionally, any team head coach, interim head coach or acting head coach is eligible to be recognized with league coaching awards.”
With Walton having steered the Warriors ship through an undefeated November, he is widely expected to be announced as Western Conference Coach of the Month shortly.
The league’s stance marks a perfect middle ground for how to go about recognizing interims. Head coaches have already established the roles and the culture of the team, thus doing most of the work for the interim coaches already and meriting credit for the team’s ultimate success regardless of whether or not they are on the sidelines. In this case specifically, Kerr has maintained a regular presence with the team, even in his absence. But in-game management/adjustments are still a crucial aspect of coaching and giving Walton the credit he is due for excelling in that capacity for the Warriors is important.
At least league coaching award eligibility is one thing they can’t steal from Walton.
UPDATE: Walton has officially been named Western Conference Coach of the Month for November.
#Warriors Interim Head Coach Luke Walton has been named the @NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month! pic.twitter.com/Ky33qOMP45
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) December 1, 2015
