Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Former Laker Luke Walton has great explanation for why he got along with Kobe Bryant

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 1/31/20

Luke Walton had a funny explanation for why he got along so well with Kobe Bryant.

Walton, the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, played with Kobe on the Lakers from 2003-2011. Walton was a starter for a few of the lean post-Shaq/pre-Pau seasons, but otherwise a bench player.

Talking ahead of the Kings’ game against the Clippers Thursday night, Walton said he and Kobe got along well because Walton passed Kobe the ball.

Why did Luke Walton get along so well with Kobe Bryant? Luke deadpanned, “I passed him the ball.”

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 31, 2020

Yep, that’s what Kobe wanted, especially from 2005-2007.

Walton went from being a Lakers player to later becoming the team’s head coach, though he was fired after last season and quickly hired by the Kings.

In longer, non-joking comments, Walton said on Monday that Kobe’s death resulted in one of the “harder times” of his life.

"It's been one of the harder times of my life."

Luke Walton mourns the passing of Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/FS06b3W6m0

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 27, 2020