Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings have newly created head coaching vacancies shortly following the conclusion of the 2021-22 NBA season. Both teams missed the playoffs and decided to head in a new direction at the head coaching position.
The Lakers dismissed coach Frank Vogel after a disappointing season, just two years removed from an NBA Finals win. The Kings let interim head coach Alvin Gentry go after a 30-52 season (25-43 since Gentry became interim head coach).
Kings stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis recently spoke about the team’s coaching vacancy, voicing that they would like input into who leads the team moving forward. “I would like to be part of it and talk to everyone,” Sabonis said recently. “Give them my input.”
One name that has been brought up as a potential candidate is the Los Angeles Lakers’ recently dismissed coach, Frank Vogel. Despite a poor 2022 record, Vogel has a 431-389 career record as a coach, and one championship on his resume.
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Frank Vogel would likely be a good addition for the struggling Sacramento Kings. The coach has led his teams to the playoffs in 7 of his 11 seasons as a head coach. In that span, the Kings have not made the playoffs once – the franchise’s last appearance was in 2006.
In fact, the Kings have had 12 different coaches since 1998, and only one, Rick Adelman (coach from 1998-2006), ever took the franchise to the postseason.
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A coach with a proven track record for success may be just what the Sacramento Kings need. After adding Domantas Sabonis via trade this season, the Kings hoped to sneak into the play-in tournament. They fell short this season but will have both Sabonis and Fox as key players moving forward. With the addition of a proven coach, the franchise might be able to return to the playoffs at long last.
