Lakers Players Reportedly Disrespected Head Coach Frank Vogel

The firing of head coach Frank Vogel is going to happen. It’s just a matter of when.

Asked directly whether he had spoken with anyone in the Lakersā€™ front office about his future, Vogel was clear that this was news to him.

ā€œMy reaction is, I havenā€™t been told sā€” and Iā€™m going to enjoy tonightā€™s game and celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back into this game and getting a W. Weā€™ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow,ā€ he said.

Vogel had reportedly lost his connection with his players. Apparently his players reaction to him in real time during games wasn’t great.

Via Los Angeles Times:

ā€œOpposing scouts said they saw Lakers players ignoring their coachesā€™ instruction,ā€ wrote Dan Woike and Broderick Turner.

During training camp, Vogel looked to establish the Lakers as a fast-breaking team, just like they were during their championship season, but Westbrook threatened to torpedo such efforts.

ā€œRuss [Westbrook] never respected Frank [Vogel] from Day 1,ā€ said one Lakers staff member with knowledge of the situation. ā€œThe moment Frank said anybody who gets the rebound can bring it up the court, which is just how the NBA is played these days, Russ was like, ā€˜Naw, Iā€™m the point guard. Give the ball to me. Everybody run. Frank was like, ā€˜No, we have Talen [Horton-Tucker] We have Austin [Reaves]. We have Malik. We have LeBron. We have AD. They can all bring the ball up.ā€™ He was like, ā€˜Nope, Iā€™m the point guard. Give me that sā€”. Everybody get out the way.ā€™

ā€œFrom that point on, in training camp, it was a wrap, ā€˜cause now Russ is a fish out of water. He doesnā€™t know what to do. Thatā€™s how that started.ā€

Vogel was forced to change the starting lineup probably a little too much, but that goes along with the pressure of having to win now.

Having too many cooks in the kitchen will always sink a team, and we know with Russ and LeBron, you have some pretty oversized egos.

You can’t win if you don’t respect the man in charge.


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