The $5.5B-Valued Lakers Need to Find 6th Coach In a Decade

Just moments after winning their final game of the season — but missing the postseason with a dismal 33-49 record — the Lakers reportedly decided to fire head coach Frank Vogel, per ESPN.

When asked about it, Vogel said, “I haven’t been told s**t.”

The exchange encapsulates the dysfunction and lack of transparency in an organization that saw little return on its gigantic offseason investment — and found an easy scapegoat. 

• James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook made up 73.4% of the team’s $164M payroll, but played just 21 games together — and went 11-10
• The Lakers were the only team without at least one five-man lineup playing at least 100 minutes together.
• He finished his three-year tenure with a 127-98 record and 56.4% win percentage — seventh-highest in Lakers history (min. 200 games). 

Now, they’re reportedly looking for a “recent championship coach” to fill the spot. Apparently, Vogel doesn’t qualify despite leading L.A. to its first title in 10 years in 2020.

The prestigious franchise, and third-highest-valued team in the NBA ($5.5B), continues to suffer a shocking turnover rate: L.A. will hire a sixth coach since 2012 — and third since LeBron James signed in 2018. 

Their non-coaching outlook includes aging superstars on expiring contracts, no financial flexibility, and no first-round picks until 2026.