Jason Kidd agreed to join the Lakers' coaching staff as an assistant prior to the start of this season. In the weeks that followed, rumors began to surface that indicated Kidd would eventually replace Frank Vogel as the team's head coach. Those rumors never came to fruition. Instead, both men have worked together in leading Los Angeles to a Western Conference-leading 33-8 overall record.
Kidd is one of the greatest point guards the NBA has ever known. His flashy ball-handling skills are imitated to this day, and he is still ranked 2nd all-time in assists, behind only Utah Jazz legend John Stockton.
Kidd was a good teammate during his playing days, and he says he's carrying that trait into his coaching career:
“There's always going to be chatter — it's the Lakers,” Kidd said, via ESPN. “Sometimes people act like I never played a game and I've never been a teammate. I was a good teammate then, and I'm a good teammate now.”
Thanks in large part to the pairing of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers appear to be on their way to a spot in the postseason. Critics expected bumps along this proverbial road, but the team has performed well, and the rumors have died down.
Vogel, who has seen his approval rating with the Lakers increase throughout this season, says Kidd was the right hire for his coaching staff:
“I can't have four video guys on my staff,” Vogel says. “The right complement for me has always been a respected former player who has coaching experience. But you can't have the mindset that you're going to look over your shoulder — you need firepower on staff.”
Coaching a team with as much star power as the Lakers is a tall order, but Vogel and Kidd are proving to be the right men for the job.
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