SACRAMENTO, Calif. — About five minutes after hearing Luke Walton had been dismissed as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac called Walton’s agent.

Finalizing the deal that brought Walton to Sacramento as the Kings new coach didn’t take much longer. After getting the call Friday, Walton changed plans to take some time off and flew to Sacramento. He agreed to a deal that afternoon and was formally introduced as coach of the Kings on Monday.

“I knew these types of offers don’t come available very often,” Walton said. “I love coaching, so having that opportunity with this type of talented team and doing it alongside somebody the way I feel about Vlade made it too good to pass up on.”

Divac called Walton one of his basketball “soul mates.”