Lakers’ Vogel: Not trying over shoulder at Kidd
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — New Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel referred to as new assistant coach Jason Kidd “an unbelievable asset” and mentioned he isn’t going to fret about trying over his shoulder.
Vogel mentioned that whereas the Lakers’ entrance workplace planted the seed of including Kidd to his workers, he welcomed the previous Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks head coach as his assistant after the 2 related and had a “prolonged” dialogue for the primary time. Vogel and Kidd didn’t have a earlier relationship, however the Lakers head coach laughed off the notion that some may view Kidd as a possible successor.
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“No, I’m excellent at blocking out noise,” Vogel mentioned with a chuckle when requested about how some within the media have already deemed Kidd as a successor. “I’ve been round this enterprise a very long time. I actually do not give second thought. You possibly can say that about each coach within the league about their assistant coaches. It occurs now and again. I consider in the event you deal with folks with the fitting respect and do the job on the highest stage, construct an atmosphere of positivity and collaboration, you may’t fear about that stuff.
“You possibly can’t fear about trying over your shoulder. You bought to fret about getting good rattling coaches, and that’s how I really feel about this rent.”
Vogel, who went 304-291 (.511) in his profession as head coach of the Indiana Pacers (2010-16) and Orlando Magic (2016-18), mentioned he is had his most success with a robust assistant coach who has taking part in and training expertise on his workers.
Kidd interviewed with Lakers normal supervisor Rob Pelinka and senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis for the head-coaching emptiness earlier than the crew opted to supply Ty Lue a contract. After these negotiations broke aside, the Lakers shortly turned to plans to make Vogel head coach with hopes of including Kidd as an assistant.
The Lakers hope the Corridor of Fame level guard might help Vogel develop younger gamers resembling Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart. Kidd additionally has a relationship with LeBron James, having performed alongside James on Workforce USA.
As a head coach, Kidd went 44-38 and reached the second spherical in his first-ever stint as a coach with the Nets in 2013-14 and was 138-152 in three and a half seasons in Milwaukee 2014-18.
Because the Lakers centered in on Vogel as head coach, he reached out to Kidd and the 2 bought to know one another with an extended cellphone dialog through which every turned snug with the opposite.
“I did not know Jason very effectively previous to that,” Vogel mentioned. “However clearly, nice respect for his taking part in profession and his teaching profession. I feel he is carried out a very good job as a head coach… This has been the mannequin that is greatest for me, by way of constructing my teaching workers. Discover a revered participant with teaching expertise that may assist strengthen my message.
“I had an excellent, prolonged interview course of with Jason the place we talked about each subject you may think about, and got here away pondering he’ll be an unbelievable asset to our program.”
Vogel mentioned he addressed Kidd’s home abuse arrest in 2001, when Kidd pleaded responsible to expenses of home abuse involving his then-wife Joumana, together with his new assistant.
“In fact it does,” Vogel mentioned when requested whether or not the incident gave him pause. “However this was one thing that was up to now and he is kind of spoken upon it and moved on from it. I consider he is in a really totally different place than again then.”