Just because Jason Kidd has one of the best jobs in the world as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks doesn’t mean he has stopped caring about what happens in L.A.
As a former assistant coach for the Lakers, Kidd is still very much connected to the squad.
In a recent chat with The Athletic, the former NBA star spoke about his former ball club and lamented their struggles this season.
“That’s family over there,” Kidd said, via Sam Amick of The Athletic. “We’ve gone through a lot of battles, won a championship. I’ve always wished those guys well … It’s tough, you know, to see Frank and those guys struggling in the sense of just trying to get healthy, trying to get together, get the chemistry going. But if there’s anyone who can get it going it’s Frank and LeBron (James).”
Kidd was once thought to be a prime candidate to coach the Lakers, but he might be better off where he’s at now.
Over the summer, L.A. traded for Russell Westbrook with hopes of competing for a title. Instead, they’ve been a chaotic and dysfunctional mess all season long. Frank Vogel, who took over head coaching duties in 2019, has been the biggest target of blame and criticism.
“I expect the Lakers to fire Frank Vogel,” said Frank Vogel. “I am not advocating it by any stretch of the imagination. I like Frank Vogel. Frank Vogel has been a top notch defensive mind in the NBA. I think that he’s a champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s already delivered that.
But these are the Lakers. This is tinsel town. … We’ve got questions about chemistry. We’ve got questions about commitment and dedication. We damn sure got questions about their defense. … If this continues, Frank Vogel in my opinion will not be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers come All-Star break.”
The situation is bad in Los Angeles, and Kidd should consider himself lucky he got when he did. Still, watching his former team struggle to such an extreme degree can’t be easy for him.
It’s certainly not easy for the countless Lakers fans who expect better from such a proud and storied franchise.
Turning things around is the only way to earn back the love and trust that has been lost.
