LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 05: Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
New Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton is reportedly being sued for sexual assault, for an incident that happened in 2016.
A Monday night report by TMZ is breaking the news that newly installed Kings head coach Luke Walton is being sued for sexual assault. TMZ’s reporting is based on legal documents they secured. The lawsuit was filed by a woman named Kelli Tennant who, according to the documents, claims to have had a business relationship with Walton.
The alleged incident occurred in 2016, while Walton while still working with the Golden State Warriors. According to TMZ’s report, Tennant met Walton at his Santa Monica hotel to drop off a book she had written and discuss the possibility of him writing a foreword.
In the suit, Tennant says when she arrived at Walton’s hotel, he convinced her to come up to his room so they could “catch up.” She claims when they got up to his room, Walton suddenly pinned her to the bed, placing his hips and legs over her body.
Tennant’s suit also identifies another incident, in May 2017, where Walton groped her, although this incident is not the focus of the lawsuit. During this period, Walton was employed as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Walton left the Lakers earlier this month when the NBA season ended and was almost immediately hired by the Kings.
The Warriors, Kings and Lakers all claimed in statements to the press to be aware of the allegations and to be gathering information. The statements by the Warriors and Lakers specified that they were learning of the allegations for the first time this evening. The statement from the Kings, included at the top of the TMZ story, simply says they are “aware” of the report but does not specify when they became aware of it.
More details will be added to this story as they become available.