The Dallas Mavericks have hired ex-Lakers former championship head coach Frank Vogel to Jason Kidd‘s coaching staff. Vogel will rejoin Kidd for a second time following their shared coaching stint in Los Angeles, where Kidd was Vogel’s lead assistant.
Former Championship Head Coach Reunites with Jason Kidd
Ex-Lakers Head Coach Frank Vogel Now in Dallas
Vogel, the head coach of the 2020 Lakers championship team, is reuniting with Kidd. Kidd served under Vogel for two seasons in LA. Vogel was hired as a coaching consultant for the Mavericks just as the team began practices and pre-season preparations this week.
Clearly, the two gained enough respect for one another in LA, considering they will coach in the same organization again. The current Mavericks bench boss stated what it took to get Vogel to join him and what he meant as a head coach in LA.
“It took a lot of begging,” Kidd joked, “but he was talked into it and I’m happy he said yes… “Being able to work for Frank was something that helped me with my coaching…” Kidd told reporters on Wednesday. “Hopefully, we can win another title together.”
Considering the coaching duo won an NBA championship together in 2020, adding Vogel to Kidd’s staff should result in good returns for last year’s finals runner-up. The Mavericks are expected to return to contending status this season. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and newly acquired Klay Thompson will lead the way.
Vogel’s Solid Track Record
Following his exit from the Lakers in 2022, Vogel was hired to lead a flawed Phoenix Suns team in 2023. Vogel’s coaching acumen has largely been predicated on his defensive-minded attributes. His strength in defensive scheming and floor positioning was vital to the Lakers’ success when he was there. The Lakers were strong defensively for those three seasons. Unfortunately, things in Phoenix did not pan out, and Vogel was let go after just one season. The Suns bounced out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round last season.
Still, Vogel has a respectable track record as a head coach overall. He was the head coach of the Pacers from 2011 to 2016 and led them to two consecutive Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. If not for the LeBron James and Dwayne Wade-led Miami Heat, Paul George and the Pacers very well might have broken through. Indiana finished with a top-three seed in Vogel’s first three seasons.
What happened in Phoenix was not all on his shoulders, mind you. The Suns roster was poorly constructed. Injuries took their toll, and the hopeful chemistry between Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal failed to see life. It was a lousy situation for Vogel. Nonetheless, he was gone.
What Vogel Brings to Mavs
The former bench boss will only add to the Mavericks’ existing coach staff championship experience. Kidd and Vogel winning a ring together adds an advantage to a team on the cusp of breaking through to winning a championship. Doncic led his team to the finals last year already. This season will be the second full one with Irving on his flank and now Thompson on his other. There should be no surprise if the Mavericks end up right where they left off last year.
As for Jason Kidd, having Vogel in his ear could really help him in his coaching decisions, floor, and roster management. Nevertheless, Frank Vogel’s hiring can only be a plus for Dallas.
