Walton is the fourth coach in Warriors history to earn the monthly award, joining Kerr, Don Nelson and George Karl.
Smart, savvy Walton draws NBA praise
It’s nearly impossible to measure how interim Golden State coach Luke Walton handles hoops stress in the absence of sideline boss Steve Kerr.
Golden State Warriors Interim Head Coach Luke Walton has been named NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month for October/November after guiding the Warriors to an NBA-record 19-0 start to the season, the league announced today. Walton, who was named Interim Head Coach on October 1 while Head Coach Steve Kerr recovers from offseason back surgery, is the fourth coach in Warriors history to earn the monthly award, joining Kerr, Don Nelson and George Karl (the NBA began giving out the award in 1982-83). It is the third monthly accolade for a Warriors coach in 2015, with Kerr receiving the honor in January and March of this year.
In addition to setting the NBA-record for best start to a season (previously 15-0), the Warriors have won 23-straight regular-season games dating back to the 2014-15 campaign, giving them the third-longest winning streak in NBA history behind only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33-0) and 2012-13 Miami Heat (27-0). The Warriors have won a franchise-best 28 consecutive regular-season home games and have won nine-straight on the road, one shy of the club record.
Following a 3-0 October, Golden State swept the November slate (16-0), giving the team its first undefeated full calendar month in franchise history. Golden State’s 16 wins in November ties the franchise-mark for wins in a month set in March 2015, when Kerr led the Warriors to a 16-2 ledger en route to Coach of the Month honors. Through 19 games this season, the Warriors have outscored their opponents by 291 points, which is the second-best point differential through 19 games in NBA history behind only the 1969-70 New York Knicks (+299). Golden State leads the league in points per game (115.3), assists (29.4), three-point field goals (13.2), field goal percentage (.491) and three-point percentage (.431).
Per NBA rules, the head coach of record is credited with team wins and losses. Kerr remains the head coach of record for the Warriors and is credited with those results. However, any team head coach, interim head coach or acting head coach is eligible to be recognized with league coaching awards.
Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach David Blatt earned Coach of the Month honors in the Eastern Conference.