Los Angeles Lakers fire Frank Vogel: official
The head coach has been relieved of his duties after one of the most disappointing seasons in the history of the franchise, failing to make the play-offs.
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially fired head coach Frank Vogel. The west coast NBA franchise have dismissed the 48-year-old in the wake of a disappointing season in which the Lakers failed to make the play-offs, finishing the season with a 33-49 record.
The Lakers thanked Vogel for his services.
Vogel took over the LA Lakers in 2019 after being in charge at the Indiana Pacers (2011-2016) and the Orlando Magic (2016-2018). He was also chosen as the All-Star Game Head Coach in 2014 and 2020.
In Vogel’s first season in charge of the Lakers he led the team to a 52-19 record and an NBA Championship, beating the Miami Heat in six games to land the 17th NBA title in the franchise’s history.
The Lakers finished his second season with a 42-30 record and made the playoffs, but were knocked out by the Phoenix Suns in six games in the first round.
Dismal 2021-2022 season for the Lakers
Vogel’s team came into this season as Western Conference favorites but failed to live up to expectation as injuries to an ageing squad took their toll. Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis were out for key spells.
Who will coach the Lakers after Vogel?
The search for Vogel’s replacement is expected to be a lengthy one, with no clear choice for the franchise at this time. However within an hour of the news being confirmed that Vogel had been dismissed, rumors began swirling that Nick Nurse, currently at the Toronto Raptors was being closely looked at by the Lakers management.