Los Angeles - The Los Angeles Lakers sacked head coach Frank Vogel on Monday, saying a change of leadership was needed after the club's shock failure to reach the playoffs.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka confirmed Vogel's dismissal in a statement, a day after the club's miserable campaign drew to a close.
"This is an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one we feel is necessary at this point," Pelinka said.
Speculation over Vogel's future intensified after the Lakers' final regular season game on Sunday, with ESPN reporting that the coach -- who led the franchise to a 17th NBA championship in 2020 - would be fired.
Talking to reporters later Monday, Pelinka said the Lakers' season had been "disappointing at every level."
"When you have disappointment you need to take ownership of that and make adjustments to be better," Pelinka said.
"Today's not going to be a day of finger-pointing or unwinding all the specific reasons, we just felt organizationally, that it was time for a new voice."
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The sacking came as Lakers players addressed the media in end-of-season interviews.
Lakers superstar LeBron James said before the dismissal was confirmed he had "nothing but respect" for Vogel.
"I respect Frank as a coach, as a man," James said earlier Monday.
"The partnership that we've had over the past few years has been nothing but just candid, great conversations.
"He's a guy who gives everything to the game. Prepared us every single night with his coaching staff.
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"I don't know what's going to happen, but I've got nothing but respect for him."
Vogel bristled when asked about his reported dismissal immediately after the Lakers' 146-141 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
"I haven't been told shit and I'm going to enjoy tonight's game, celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back in this game and getting a W, and we'll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow," Vogel told reporters.
The Lakers finished the 2021-2022 campaign in 11th place in the Western Conference, missing out on the postseason with a dismal record of 33 wins and 49 losses.
It is only the fourth time in James' career that he has failed to reach the playoffs, and the second time it has happened since he joined the Lakers in 2018.
Lakers SG Malik Monk on Frank Vogel: "I love the man. He gave me a chance. This was the only team that called me in the offseason and gave me a chance. I have nothing bad to say about him. All praise goes to him. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have a chance to play basketball." pic.twitter.com/CqQiz5a27r
The team had been tipped as championship contenders before the season after acquiring nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook in a blockbuster trade.
But injuries meant that the Lakers were only able to field their big three of James, Westbrook and Anthony Davis in 21 games during the 82-game season.
James said Monday that the team's inability to find consistent results had been the most challenging aspect of the season.
"It felt like every time we would take a step forward, we would take three of four steps back," James said.
"Woj tweeted one minute after the game that Frank Vogel was fired. … The Lakers didn’t even have the decency to inform the coach that won them a championship 18 months ago, that they were going to let him go. … The Laker organization is in utter disarray.”
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 11, 2022
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"We'd have a huge win at home against a playoff-contending team like Utah -- and then go on the road and lose to Houston. That was the mental side, playing with your psyche like 'What the heck is going on?'
"How can we be so great one night and the next night be so mediocre? That was the most challenging part of the season for sure."
James meanwhile batted away questions about his future with the Lakers, saying he had not discussed the two-year contract extension he will be eligible to sign in August because of collective bargaining agreement rules.
However he insisted he still wanted to challenge for more NBA titles with the Lakers.
"I came here to win a championship. And I want to win more. So I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, but I'm still hungry for more," James said. "I'm confident that this organization wants the same."
AFP