Even with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on his side, the skepticism around Lakers coach Frank Vogel was extremely loud. Everybody seemingly had an opinion on Vogel and how could they not, after the Lakers head coaching search leaked out a couple of big names that were “ahead” of him in the competition to be L.A.’s next head coach.
But while Ty Lue took a job on Doc Rivers’ staff and Monty Williams took the job with the Phoenix Suns, Vogel has exceeded all expectations in handling this Lakers group. He also exceeded them in the handling of the Lakers insistence that Jason Kidd, a former head coach and Hall of Fame player who is on good terms with LeBron, a coach who was seen by many as the Lakers head coach in waiting. But all of those worries are moot now and you can count LeBron James among the impressed.
“He’s been great,” James said, according to SB Nation. “He’s been unbelievable. I mean, we’ve faced, it’s been a crazy obstacle course for our franchise this whole year. I’m not going to sit here and give all the details, but you guys, everyone can go back and just see from the start of the season all the way up until now what we’ve gone through as a team. He’s been able to manage it the whole time. Bringing in guys, losing guys. He’s just always been the anchor, and our coaching staff has been right behind him. I can’t say anything more than that.
“I’m just happy to be on the floor to kind of be his coach on the floor and just command to my teammates the same message that he’s given to me and be an extension of his mind. It’s been great.”
James and Vogel have created a strong team together. Now they are only four wins away from bringing the Lakers franchise their 17th championship banner.
