Finally, the Los Angeles Lakers have released head coach Frank Vogel from his troubles by officially letting him go on Monday.
According to Shams Charania from The Athletic, Toronto’s Nick Nurse is being considered as a top candidate for the position.
In a statement, Lakers general manager and vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka expressed gratitude for Vogel’s coaching that led to the NBA championship in 2019-20 while acknowledging the difficult decision to part ways with him.
Thank you, Coach. pic.twitter.com/8eb4Ia9ZqI
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 11, 2022
Rumors about Vogel’s departure began circulating before the final buzzer sounded, marking what could be the Lakers’ most disappointing season to date.
After the Lakers’ victory over the Nuggets with a score of 146-141 in overtime on Sunday, Vogel stated, “I haven’t been informed about anything. I plan to enjoy tonight’s game and acknowledge the effort put in by these young players. We’ll tackle tomorrow when it comes.”
News of Vogel’s departure was leaked by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski even before the Lakers secured their last win of the season.
Frank Vogel has coached his final game for the Lakers, a decision that’s expected to be shared with him as soon as Monday, sources tell ESPN. Lakers’ search expected to be lengthy and expansive with no clear initial frontrunner.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2022
Even with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook absent from the lineup, the Lakers’ reserves managed to secure two consecutive wins, preventing the team from reaching a 50-loss season.
Malik Monk, reflecting on coach Vogel after the victory, expressed his appreciation, saying, “I have great respect for him. He provided me with an opportunity.”
Monk praised Vogel for handling a very challenging season with professionalism.
“He remained composed throughout. He came prepared and consistently provided us with effective strategies,” Monk added.
Austin Reaves, the standout performer of the game, also had positive words for Vogel. “I hold him in high regard. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. It’s great to conclude with a significant win for him and our team.”
While Vogel led the Lakers to the championship in 2019-20 during his first year, it wasn’t sufficient to salvage one of the franchise’s worst seasons.
Despite being favored for the title, the Lakers concluded the season with a disappointing 33-49 record, securing the 11th spot in the Western Conference and missing out on Play-In contention.
Throughout the season, LA grappled with injuries and COVID-related challenges, but the team, comprising potential Hall of Famers, struggled to find cohesion even when fully fit and available.
The front office’s inactivity before the trade deadline contributed to the team’s decline, as they managed only six wins out of 24 games following the All-Star break, culminating in an eight-game losing streak before the final two wins to conclude the season.
Source of Image: Frank Vogel Official @ Instagram
