The Los Angeles Lakers held a press conference for new head coach Frank Vogel on Monday. While a number of topics was covered during the roughly 30-minute presser, not one question was asked about Vogel’s top assistant: Jason Kidd.
Earlier this month, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Kidd had agreed to join Vogel’s coaching staff in a “prominent” assistant role. Vogel confirmed that report in a conversation with Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN after his introductory presser on Monday.
Kidd will come to Los Angeles with a target on his back because of his failed coaching stints in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, and his history of off-court issues. However, Kidd does have a few people in his corner, like Chicago Bulls legend and NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen.
During Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s “The Jump,” Pippen said he thinks Kidd will be good for the Lakers and, especially, for Lonzo Ball:
I think it’s great. I think everyone has said all along that this young player models his game a little bit after Jason Kidd, thinking pass-first, so I think it’s a good fit. It gives Jason the opportunity to work with this kid in the offseason and really help all of their young players throughout the whole season, get them better. The Lakers are not that far off. Let’s not forget: They still have LeBron James.
Kidd played a role in developing the young talent in Milwaukee, including Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But his efforts didn’t translate to wins while he was there. Since his departure, the Bucks have gone 60-22 and they ended their regular season with the best record in the NBA.
Hopefully Kidd’s presence can be more beneficial to a team than his absence this time around.
