The Western Conference Pacific Division team Los Angeles Lakers has been given permission by the Golden State Warriors to interview its top assistant Luke Walton for the club's coaching vacancy.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who was recently named the league' Coach of the Year for the 2015-16 season, said on Wednesday before Game 5 of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak contacted Bob Myers (Warriors general manager), who said Walton could be interviewed once the first-round series is over.

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"Mitch has called Bob and we've told Mitch he's perfectly welcome to talk to Luke as soon as this series is over and we have a little break," Kerr said.

Walton, 36, played nine seasons for the Lakers and won two championships titles with the team under Phil Jackson. His name became significantly sonorous after he took over as the team's interim coach and guided the defending NBA champions to a 24-0 start this season.

Walton, who was named NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month for the games played in October and November last year, went 39-4 during Kerr's absence due to the complications with his back surgery.

According to ESPN, the University of Arizona product finished eighth on Tuesday in coach of the year balloting and, sources say, he has drawn serious interest from the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings as those teams continue their search for new coaches.

The San Diego California-born Walton has long been considered a strong candidate for the Lakers' coaching post.

Byron Scott, who finished his first season with a 21-61 record and held a franchise-worst 17 wins and 65 losses this season, was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

TagsLuke Walton, Steve Kerr, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA 2016, 2016 nba playoff, Golden State Warriors