Kings coach Walton denies sexual assault allegations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In his first response to allegations he sexually assaulted a former sports TV reporter, Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton flatly denied any attack occurred, and said that Kelli Tennant’s accusations are an attempt to attract media attention.
Tennant in April filed a lawsuit against Walton, accusing him of sexual battery in 2014 when he allegedly pushed her onto the bed in his Santa Monica hotel room and groped her.
In a brief response filed last week, Walton’s attorneys acknowledged that the two met at the hotel that day, but wrote that “Walton has a limited memory of the encounter” and that “their encounter was very short, entirely pleasant and consensual, and did not involve any raised voices or grabbing/groping/ restraining of her arms nor did it involve any awkwardness.”
She had come to the hotel to drop off a book she had written, and in which Walton is listed as the author of the foreword. He was then an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.
The two previously had worked for several months in Los Angeles for the same company, Spectrum Sports, where Walton was a sports commentator and Tennant was a reporter.
Walton’s court filing said Walton did not write the foreword to her “pamphlet/book.” The book describes the issues involved in transitioning from being an athlete to post-athletic retirement. Tennant had been a star volleyball player at the University of Southern California.
The Sacramento Kings and the NBA have since launched ongoing investigations into the incident. Walton, who was fired earlier this year as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, was hired by the Kings weeks before Tennant leveled her charges.
Walton is continuing as Kings coach pending the outcome of the review.
Nuggets acquire Thunder’s Grant
The Denver Nuggets bolstered their front court by acquiring power forward Jerami Grant from the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2020 first-round pick.
The 6-9, 220-pound Grant is coming off a breakout season that saw him set career highs in points (13.6) and rebounds (5.2). He shot 49.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent on 3pointers. On the defensive end, he displayed his versatility with 100 blocked shots and 61 steals.
Odds and ends
Atlanta agreed to a two-year contract with Jabari Parker, the former No. 2 overall pick, according to several people familiar with the situation. The deal is for two years and $13 million, with the second year a player option. … The Lakers and Avery Bradley have a deal in place for the free-agent guard to sign a two-year deal for $9.7 million once he clears waivers, his agent, Bill Duffy, said. … Dallas finalized a deal to acquire guard Delon Wright from Memphis in a sign-and-trade agreement.