Lakers Coaching History: A Legacy of Success and Change

From John Kundla to Frank Vogel: A Journey of 26 Head Coaches

Key Points:

• The Lakers have had 26 head coaches since joining the NBA.
• John Kundla was the franchise's first coach while in the NBA.
• Frank Vogel won a title in his first year coaching LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, with a rich legacy of success on the court. However, behind the scenes, the team has also had a revolving door of head coaches, with 26 different individuals holding the position since the Lakers joined the NBA in 1948.

The franchise's first head coach while in the NBA was John Kundla, who coached the team from 1948 to 1958. Kundla led the Lakers to five NBA championships, including their first title in 1949.

In recent years, the Lakers have had a more stable coaching situation, with Frank Vogel leading the team to a championship in his first year at the helm in 2020. Vogel is just the third Lakers coach to win a title in his first season, joining Kundla and Pat Riley.

The Lakers' coaching history is a testament to the franchise's commitment to winning and its willingness to make changes when necessary. The team has had some of the greatest coaches in NBA history, and they have continued to find success even when those coaches have moved on.