Aside from attracting some of the greatest players in NBA history, Los Angeles has also lured in some of the greatest coaches of all-time who have helped make the Lakers one of the marquee franchises in the NBA. Unfortunately, they also have a strange habit of hiring somewhat ill-equipped “coaches”.
Best & Worst Coaches in LA Lakers History
The Best…
Phil Jackson (1999-2004; 2005-11)
Not satisfied with the dynasty he built with Jordan and Pippen in Chicago, Phil Jackson packed his bags and moved West to Los Angeles where he teamed up with Shaq and Kobe on the Lakers.
The result? More rings, of course.
Jackson masterminded yet another three-peat from 2000-02, even with Shaq and Kobe ready to kill one another by the end. He added another two with Pau and Kobe for good measure, leaving him with more rings than fingers on his hands.
Pat Riley (1981-90)
Jackson may have knocked Pat Riley off his perch as the greatest Lakers coach ever by sheer number of rings, but Riley’s time with the Lakers is fondly remembered. Riley coached Magic Johnson and those Showtime Lakers with the same level of cool and suave as his signature slick hairstyle. Riley and the Lakers dominated the 80’s to the tune of 4 NBA titles and a .733 winning percentage (best in Lakers’ history).
John Kundla (1948-58; 1958-59)
The man who started it all. Before Riley and Jackson and Los Angeles, there was John Kundla.
Kundla was the architect for the Lakers’ first dynasty, which came all the way back in Minnesota. Kundla and the legendary George Mikan combined to lead the Lakers to five Championships during the early days of the NBA in the 1950’s.
The Worst…
George Mikan (1958) and Magic Johnson (1994)
Lakers fans will always fondly remember George Mikan and Magic Johnson as two of the greatest Lakers players ever. However, they’d rather forget their beloved players’ stints on their coach’s bench.
Mikan took the job at the request of his former coach, John Kundla, who’d transitioned into the general manager position. Things didn’t go as well for Mikan as they did on the court; he went a disastrous 9-30 in the 39 games he coached until his resignation.
Magic’s foray into coaching wasn’t all too dissimilar. After his premature retirement due to AIDS, Johnson returned to the NBA in 1994 to take charge as coach of the Lakers – at the behest of Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Magic’s reign mercifully lasted on 16 games (the Lakers went 5-11) before moving on from coaching.
It’s ironic that two players largely responsible for the greatest periods in Lakers history had two of their worst spells with them as coaches.
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